Constitution

Ukraine 1996 Constitution (reviewed 2019)

Table of Contents

Chapter X. Autonomous Republic of Crimea

Article 134

The Autonomous Republic of Crimea is an inseparable constituent part of Ukraine and decides on the issues ascribed to its competence within the limits of authority determined by the Constitution of Ukraine.

Article 135

The Autonomous Republic of Crimea has the Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea that is adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and approved by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine by no less than one-half of the constitutional composition of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

Normative legal acts of the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and decisions of the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea shall not contradict the Constitution and the laws of Ukraine and are adopted in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine, the laws of Ukraine, acts of the President of Ukraine and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, and for their execution.

Article 136

The representative body of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea is the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the deputies of which are elected on the basis of general, equal, direct vote by secret ballot. The term of authority of the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the deputies of which are elected at regular elections, is five years. The suspension of the authority of the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea results in the termination of the authorities of deputies.

The next election to the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea is held on the last Sunday of October of the fifth year of the authority the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, elected at regular election.

The Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea within the limits of its authority adopts decisions and resolutions that are mandatory for execution in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

The Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea is the government of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. The Head of the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea is appointed to office and dismissed by the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea upon the consent of the President of Ukraine.

The authority, the procedure for the formation and operation of the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and of the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, are determined by the Constitution of Ukraine and the laws of Ukraine, and by normative legal acts of the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea on issues ascribed to its authority.

In the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, justice is administered by courts of Ukraine.

Article 137

The Autonomous Republic of Crimea exercises normative regulation on the following issues:

  1. agriculture and forestry;
  2. land reclamation and mining;
  3. public works, crafts and trades; charity;
  4. city construction and housing management;
  5. tourism, hotel business, fairs;
  6. museums, libraries, theatres, other cultural establishments, historical and cultural preserves;
  7. public transportation, roadways, water supply;
  8. hunting and fishing;
  9. sanitary and hospital services.

For reasons of nonconformity of normative legal acts of the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea with the Constitution of Ukraine and the laws of Ukraine, the President of Ukraine may suspend these normative legal acts of the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea with a simultaneous appeal to the Constitutional Court of Ukraine in regard to their constitutionality.

Article 138

The competence of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea comprises:

  1. designating elections of deputies to the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, approving the composition of the electoral commission of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea;
  2. organising and conducting local referendums;
  3. managing property that belongs to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea;
  4. elaborating, approving and implementing the budget of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea on the basis of the uniform tax and budget policy of Ukraine;
  5. elaborating, approving and realising programmes of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea for socio-economic and cultural development, the rational utilisation of nature, and environmental protection in accordance with national programmes;
  6. recognising the status of localities as resorts; establishing zones for the sanitary protection of resorts;
  7. participating in ensuring the rights and freedoms of citizens, national harmony, the promotion of the protection of legal order and public security;
  8. ensuring the operation and development of the state language and national languages and cultures in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea; protection and use of historical monuments;
  9. participating in the development and realisation of state programmes for the return of deported peoples;
  10. initiating the introduction of a state of emergency and the establishment of zones of an ecological emergency situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea or in its particular areas.

Other powers may also be delegated to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea by the laws of Ukraine.

Article 139

The Representative Office of the President of Ukraine, whose status is determined by the law of Ukraine, operates in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.