Ukraine to have military ombudsman: what will he be responsible for?

A new institution is being created in Ukraine — the position of Military Ombudsman, which will be responsible for protecting the rights of military personnel and their families. The draft law defines the procedure for appointment, the requirements for candidates, and the powers of the ombudsman. Find out what tasks are assigned to the military ombudsman and how his activities will affect the system of protecting the rights of the country's defenders

Legal advice for Ukrainians

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The Verkhovna Rada supported the creation of a new position — Military Ombudsman. The corresponding bill No. 13266 was adopted in the second reading and as a whole by 283 votes of people's deputies. This initiative aims to strengthen the protection of the rights of Ukrainian military personnel and their families.

Key provisions of the law

The document provides for the creation of the institution of Military Ombudsman, who will be appointed by the President of Ukraine for a term of five years. The same person cannot hold this position for more than two consecutive terms.

Candidates for the position must be Ukrainian citizens aged 30 or older, have a higher education (at least a master's degree), an impeccable reputation, and have resided in the country for the last five years. Other mandatory requirements include knowledge of the state language, high moral character, and satisfactory health.

Persons who meet any of the following criteria cannot be appointed to this position:

▪️ have military status;

▪️ are members of political parties;

▪️ have citizenship or nationality of another state;

▪️ have alimony arrears of more than six months.

Before appointment, candidates undergo an anti-corruption check and are required to submit a declaration of income.

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What are the powers of the military ombudsman?

The military ombudsman will be responsible for:

1. considering complaints from military personnel and their families;

2. conducting inspections of service conditions;

3. monitoring compliance with the rights and freedoms of Ukraine's defenders;

4. preparing an annual report on their activities.

According to the law, the report must be sent to the president by 30 March each year and published on the ombudsman's official website for public access.

The new body will be funded from the state budget.

People's Deputy Iryna Gerashchenko noted that the appointment of the ombudsman by the president contradicts the principles of independence of this institution and the Constitution of Ukraine. According to her, in the future, after the end of martial law, the appointment procedure should change — the position should be filled by parliament through a competition, as is practiced in most democratic countries.

Reminder! The rules for delivering summonses have changed in Ukraine: now they can be sent not only by the TCC, but also by the Ministry of Defence through Ukrposhta and other postal operators. A registered letter is officially equivalent to a received summons, which eliminates the possibility of evasion. Find out what this means for citizens.

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