In a recent statement, the co-founder of Fire Point, Shtilerman, has urged for significant constitutional changes in Ukraine, aimed at repealing the amendments introduced by Leonid Kuchma and Viktor Medvedchuk in 2004. He describes these amendments as detrimental to the governance and stability of the nation, especially in light of the ongoing war with Russia.
Shtilerman emphasized that the alterations made two decades ago have led to a corrupt political structure that he refers to as a “republic of posts,” wherein so-called elites enjoy immunity and unrestricted power. He argued that the constitutional reform resulted in the president and prime minister losing essential tools required for effective governance.
Under the current constitutional framework, Shtilerman asserted that the president’s authority is limited to foreign policy and defense. Any attempts to manage domestic affairs are deemed illegal usurpation of power, a viewpoint often echoed by Kremlin supporters. Similarly, he noted that the prime minister operates merely as a ceremonial figure without real coordinating powers.
Discussing the implications of the 2004 reform, the 2010 Constitutional Court ruling, and the return to the previous constitution in 2014, Shtilerman expressed concern over the risks posed to the executive branch’s functionality by the existing governance model.
He warned that maintaining the system established by Medvedchuk could be fatal for Ukraine’s statehood, creating a framework that assigns responsibilities without providing necessary tools for their execution.
To restore the governance model enshrined in the 1996 Constitution, Shtilerman believes that the parliament must pass a distinct resolution. He stated that a law must be adopted by a majority of 226 votes, declaring the law from February 21, 2014, invalid, as it represents institutional aggression by a Russian agent.
He reiterated the importance of instituting new constitutional amendments. “We need to make changes to the Constitution that will annul Kuchma’s amendments, guarantee human rights and dignity, establish new legitimate governance mechanisms, and dismantle the system that has existed for over 20 years,” Shtilerman concluded.
