Mykolaiv Council Deputies to Report Online Due to Security Concerns

Deputies of the Mykolaiv Regional Council are required to report annually to voters on their work, in accordance with changes in the law. Given the security risks, the reports will be published online on the official website of the regional council.

The relevant decision was considered at a meeting of the Mykolaiv Regional Council's Standing Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms, Law and Order, Anti-Corruption and Regulatory Policy, Regulations, Deputy Activities and Ethics, and Communication Policy.

According to the new changes in Ukrainian legislation, the deputies of Mykolaiv Regional Council are obliged to report to the voters on the results of their work.

This issue is of great importance, as reporting by deputies is an annual mandatory procedure that allows voters to be aware of the activities of their representatives at the local level. According to the new changes, deputies must hold open meetings with voters, where citizens can ask questions and make suggestions.

However, in the context of the ongoing war and potential security threats to citizens, holding such events in Mykolaiv is problematic. To ensure security and compliance with the law, the deputies will be able to publish their reports through their personal accounts on the official website of the Mykolaiv Regional Council.

This decision was made possible by amendments to Article 16 of the Law of Ukraine on the Status of Local Council Deputies, which came into force on January 8, 2025.

Also, Mykolaiv City Council has been working remotely for more than two years and has been holding sessional meetings online. However, this format raises concerns due to the non-transparency of the voting procedure: it is not always possible to see on the screen whether a deputy is present at the meeting. In addition, experts emphasize other shortcomings of the organization of remote voting.

Experts recommend that MPs improve the regulations by making the process of online meetings more open and understandable to the public to avoid doubts about the legitimacy of the decisions made.

In particular, it became known what percentage of resolutions are made public by Mykolaiv council leaders. The only one that publishes 100% of its resolutions is Mykolaiv district council.

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Анна Літман