Ukraine proposes to establish Military Administration of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea

At a meeting of the Verkhovna Rada's Defense Committee, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Iryna Vereshchuk presented a draft law to restore public authority in Crimea. This is the draft law "On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine 'On the Legal Regime of Martial Law' on the Peculiarities of Restoring Public Authority in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol." One of the innovations is the establishment of the Military Administration of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

According to the press service of the Ministry of Reintegration, this legislative initiative aims to create preconditions for the restoration of state power on the peninsula after de-occupation, to promote its integration into the public administration system of Ukraine. It also aims to ensure the implementation of local government reform. In particular, the creation of new districts, territorial communities and their governing bodies.

It is noted that in addition, the draft law proposes to establish the Military Administration of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea for the duration of martial law. This body will fulfill the powers of the Council of Ministers and the Verkhovna Rada of the AR of Crimea, coordinate and control the activities of lower-level military administrations, and perform a number of other powers.

The draft law also provides for the date (February 27, 2014) of termination of powers of local governments, their officials and civil servants of state bodies that were not relocated from the TOT of the AR of Crimea.

The draft law was developed by the Ministry of Reintegration jointly with representatives of the Office of the President, the Presidential Mission in the AR of Crimea, the Ministry of Infrastructure and the National Agency for Civil Service. In March this year, the project was supported by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Earlier it was reported that the Ukrainian Defense Forces have a plan to de-occupy Crimea and destroy the Kerch Bridge.