I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

1. People’s Movement of Ukraine (Rukh) is a public political party, which appeared and acts as manifestation of people’s initiative, aimed at the renewal of the society, independent statehood of Ukraine, formation of the national democracy.

2. Primary goals of the Rukh activities are:

• to strengthen the independent statehood of Ukraine;

• to develop national Ukrainian democracy.

3. Rukh has the following objectives:

• to further the transformation of Ukraine into a national democratic constitutional state that will guarantee free individual development, nation’s and human rights protection, unhampered realization of democratic freedoms;
• to achieve the formation of socially oriented market economy, giving priority to private property; sound protection of producer and consumer rights; high living standards; integration of Ukraine into European and world economic systems;
• to ensure spiritual and intellectual rebirth of Ukrainian nation, development of Ukrainian culture and language; overcoming of the consequences of the russification policy, revival of historical and national awareness of Ukrainians;
• to support the protection and increase of cultural, political and economic traditions of Ukrainian people; to defend Christian and common to all mankind values; personal and private property inviolability, harmonious cooperation of the individual, family, nation, society and state;
• to ensure the development of languages and cultures of national minorities and ethnical groups, living on the territory of Ukraine, to defend their rights and interests;
• to provide assistance to Ukrainians, who live in other countries, in their desire to preserve their national identity, in development of their culture and education; to promote their cultural and economic ties with Ukraine; to assist them in repatriation process;
• to assert national interests of Ukraine, to provide safety for its citizens and to seek the formation of safe and steady civil society.

4. Rukh maintains relations and cooperates with other political parties, civil organizations, including national and cultural, and religious organizations, other voluntary associations, activities of which ensure the development of Ukrainian national democracy, provide solutions for the urgent state and social issues; takes part in election campaigns or in nomination of candidates, carrying out of common measures and activities.

Rukh establishes relations and cooperation with different parties and organizations and foreign citizens outside Ukraine, according to the existing legislation.

5. Establishing and maintaining relations with any unit of political system of Ukraine, Rukh is guided by the principle, that such relations must be based on goodwill, non-interference, democratic dialogue and mutual respect.

6. As a political party Rukh acts according to its Program and Charter within the limits of the Constitution and legislation of Ukraine. Rukh participates in the formation of public and local authorities as well as in implementation and realization of the Program through its representatives, elected and appointed to the public and local authorities of all levels.

7. In its activities Rukh adheres to the democratic and constitutional methods, as well as principles of publicity, pluralism, impermissibility of persecution because of one’s views and convictions, respect for an individual. Rukh rejects discrimination of any kind, international, religious and other hostilities and their promotion.

8. Rukh carries out its activities according to the existing legislation in the following way:

• cooperates with state institutions, public authorities of all levels and local authorities, political parties and other organizations, whose goal is to develop of independent Ukrainian state, in solution of the problems, set by Rukh Program and Charter;
• participates in election campaigns, nominates its candidates for elections; in the framework of the existing legislation initiates cases on recalling and termination functions of the deputies, city and village heads, who failed to justify the trust of the voters;
• summarizes, develops and submits to legislative and executive authorities proposals which arise from the objectives of Rukh Program; suggests to local public administration and local authorities draft resolutions of different local matters;
• organizes survey of public opinion and publishes its results, submits proposals about referendums and participates in their organization;
• participates in the formation of public and local authorities; implements legal methods of influencing on public and local authorities;
• ensures observance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Helsinki Final Act, and other international treaties on human rights protection;
• promotes rebirth of national traditions and customs, takes part in organization of celebrations of memorable national holidays and anniversaries;
• carries out publishing activities according to existing legislation; issues its newspapers, bulletins; distributes information in the form of leaflets, posters, written appeals, open letters, and through mass media;
• organizes different types of public activities; supervises monuments belonging to historical and cultural legacy of Ukraine;
• organizes debates, colloquiums on urgent matters, establishes expert commissions, organizes lectures, cultural and charitable events;
• promotes entrepreneurship; economy development in towns and villages;
• organizes and conducts mass-meetings, gatherings, demonstrations, marches, picketing and other mass activities.

9. Rukh unites citizens of Ukraine irrespective of their nationality, affiliation, religious beliefs, sex and social status. To achieve its goals and to fulfill its objectives, set by the its Program and Charter, Rukh creates coalitions and blocs. Rukh represents and protects its members in state and civil organizations.

II. RUKH MEMBERSHIP

 

1. Any citizen of Ukraine, who has reached the age of 18, who accepts Rukh Program and Charter, helps to achieve the goals and fulfill the objectives of the organization and is not a member of other political parties, can become Rukh member.

2. To become Rukh member one should hand in a written application with references from two Rukh members. People who write references should be Rukh members for at least a year.

The decision about the admission to the party is made by the local unit of Rukh after the consideration of the application form and references in the presence of the applicant. The decision, made by the local unit of Rukh, is approved by the rayon organization board of Rukh on submission by the head of the unit. An individual becomes Rukh member from the moment of the approval of his admission to Rukh by the rayon organization.

Boards, such as rayon and oblast boards and councils, Rukh Political Council, Rukh Central Board, also have the right to grant Rukh membership. The admission to Rukh by these boards is carried according to the same procedure as local units have. The decision of these boards about the admission to Rukh doesn’t require any approval.

3. Rukh member has a membership card, its sample is approved by Rukh Central Board. Rukh membership cards have single indexing and are the documents of strict account.

4. Rukh member pays membership fees. Monthly fee rate is set personally by Rukh member, but cannot be less than minimal rate, set by oblast organization of Rukh.

5. Records of Rukh members are kept at all structural levels of the organization –local units, oblast and rayon organizations, Rukh Staff of Central Board.

Rukh membership applications together with references are kept by the authorities who carry out the admission procedure. Application original or copies and record cards are kept at the rayon organizations of Rukh. Record card copies are kept at the oblast organization boards and Rukh Staff of Central Board.

6. Rukh members are united into local units. Every Rukh member belongs to one of the local units of Rukh.

Rukh member, who is not registered at any of the Rukh units for two months, is considered to be a party dropout.

7. Individuals, who were admitted to Rukh by the local unit, are registered at that unit.

Individuals, who were admitted to Rukh by the boards, are registered at the local unit provided that they submitted a written request to the local unit and the latter gave its consent.

If Rukh member changes the unit within the same rayon organization he is registered at the local unit provided he submitted the written request and the local unit gave its consent. The rayon organization should be notified about the change of the registration office.

If Rukh member transfers to the unit of another rayon organization he is registered at the local unit provided he submitted the written request and the local unit gave its consent. He also needs to have his registration card, issued by the previous rayon organization. The registration card should be turned over to the rayon organization by the head of the unit.

The rayon organization should hand over the information about Rukh member transfer to the higher Rukh units.

8. Rukh member has the following rights:

• to express his views within Rukh institutions and submit proposals concerning its activities to any Rukh board;

• to take part in the organization of different activities in accordance with the Rukh Program and Charter;

• participate in Rukh board elections, nominate himself and other members for elections; to be elected to the Rukh boards according to Rukh Charter;

• the protection of his dignity by Rukh;

• to receive information about Rukh activities, its units and boards;

• to appeal to the higher boards against the court decisions of the lower boards;

• to join together with other members into local Rukh units;

• to transfer from one local unit to another provided that the latter gave its consent;

• to withdraw from the organization freely.

9. Rukh member should:

• act according to the goals and objectives, set by Rukh Program and Charter, according to the decisions passed by Rukh boards;

• follow Rukh Program and Charter, popularize them, contribute to the accomplishment of the Rukh objectives;

• strengthen the authority of the organization;

• take part in Rukh activities;

• pay membership fees;

• stick to the moral principles and constructive business criticism in his work;

• take part in the work of his local Rukh unit.

10. On the decision of the Rukh boards the second registration of Rukh members can be conducted. Second registration takes place in the set period of time with the direct participation of the Rukh member in the meetings of local units or in general meetings of Rukh rayon organizations and other meetings of the same status.

Individual second registration of Rukh members can also take place at the meetings of Rukh boards (except conferences and Rukh Congress), and in special cases – meetings of the organizational committees, established according to the articles 70 and 83 of this Charter.

Rukh Central Board decides to conduct the second registration of the whole party or of a separate oblast or rayon organizations.

Rukh oblast council decides to conduct the second registration in a separate oblast organization or of a separate local unit.

Rukh rayon organization board or Rukh rayon council decides to conduct a second registration of a separate local unit.

When Rukh member passes the second registration, his membership card is ticked off. After the completion of the second registration the membership card that is not ticked off becomes invalid.

11. Withdrawal from Rukh membership is possible:

• upon a personal request;
• in the case, when a Rukh member for no reasonable excuse is not registered at any of the local units within two months;
• as a result of refusal from the second registration or failure to pass it in the set time period;
• on account of losing Ukrainian citizenship;
• if a person becomes a member of some other political party;
• on account of expulsion from Rukh.

In the cases, provided by paragraphs a) – f), a local unit or Rukh board decides whether to recognize an individual as the one that withdrew from Rukh. Such decision is reported to all structural levels of Rukh, where individual registration of Rukh members is conducted.

12. Rukh member, who violated Rukh Program or Charter, hampered the accomplishment of Rukh activities or undermined the authority of Rukh, can be subject to penalty in the form of notice or rebuke. The penalty is imposed by the decision of a unit or by the resolution passed by Rukh board. The penalty resolution is adopted by Rukh oblast or central board, after the conclusion is achieved by the oblast or Monitoring and Supervision Board.

The Rukh member concerned is informed about the penalty on receipt or by the registered letter. The Rukh member concerned may appeal against the penalty decision to Rukh board of the higher level. This appeal should be dealt with within two months. The results of the appeal consideration are sent to the appellant in the written form.

13. Rukh member, who seriously violated Rukh Program or Charter, mandatory provisions of the party boards, essentially hampered the accomplishment of Rukh activities or severely undermined the authority of Rukh, can be excluded from the party.

Violation by Rukh member of resolutions, made by higher boards on electoral matters, passed in the framework of jurisdiction, or resistance to their implementation may lead to the expulsion from Rukh.

Expulsion from Rukh (taking into consideration the restrictions of the articles 23 and 24 of the Charter) takes place:

• on the basis of the decision of the local unit meeting, approved by the rayon organization board;
• on the basis of the decision of the rayon conference or Rukh rayon board;
• on the basis of the decision of Rukh oblast conference, oblast council or Rukh oblast organization board, upon the decision made by the oblast Monitoring and Supervision Board;

• on the basis of the decision of the Rukh Central Board, Rukh Political Council, upon the decision made by the Central Monitoring and Supervision Board.

Rukh Ukrainian Congress has the right to expel from Rukh any of its members.

14. The decision about the expulsion of Rukh board members can be adopted by:

• concerning members of Rukh rayon council – by rayon conference, oblast organization board, Rukh Political Council, Rukh Central Board;
• concerning members of Rukh oblast council and oblast Monitoring and Supervision Board – by oblast conference, Rukh Political Council, Rukh Central Board;
• concerning members of Rukh faction in Verkhovna Rada, who are neither members of the Central Board nor members of the Central Monitoring and Supervision Board – by Rukh Central Board.

15. If a member of Rukh Central Board or Central Monitoring and Supervision Board seriously violated Rukh Program or Charter or severely undermined the authority of Rukh, Rukh Central Board may, after the decision of Central Monitoring and Supervision Board, adopt by two-thirds of its charter members the resolution to terminate the functions with Rukh Central Board or Central Monitoring and Supervision Board or to terminate his Rukh membership until the corresponding resolution is adopted by Rukh Ukrainian Congress.

16. Decision on the expulsion from Rukh may be appealed against by the person concerned to Rukh higher board, indicated in the article 23 of the Charter, or directly to the oblast or Central Monitoring and Supervision Board during one month from the day of its adoption. This appeal should be dealt with within three months; the decision is made by the corresponding body following the same procedure as in the case of expulsion.

Before final decision is adopted, the person concerned retains the rights and responsibilities of Rukh member, except for the right to be elected to the Rukh boards. The responsibilities of the previously chosen Rukh board member are interrupted for the period of the consideration of the case of his expulsion from Rukh.

17. Individuals, who withdrew from Rukh on the grounds, stated by paragraphs a) – e) of the Article 20 of the Charter, have the right to request for their renewal in Rukh and on conditions that the grounds mentioned were eliminated, the corresponding length of party membership will be preserved. The requests for renewal in the party are dealt with in the same way as the applications for the party admission, but references of two party members are not necessary. Units meetings or a corresponding Rukh board decide whether to renew Rukh membership of the person concerned and whether to preserve the total length of party membership. The decision of Rukh unit should be approved by the rayon council of Rukh.

18. Individuals, who were expelled from Rukh on the grounds, stated in the article 22 of the Charter, have the right to request for their renewal in Rukh:

• individuals, expelled by unit meetings – to the same unit or to the Rukh board;
• individuals, expelled by the rayon conference or Rukh rayon council, by the oblast organization board – to Rukh oblast council or to Rukh Central Board;

• individuals, expelled by the oblast conference, Rukh council or by Rukh Central Board – to Rukh Central Board.

The decision of the local unit on the renewal of the previously expelled individual in Rukh should be approved by Rukh rayon council.

The decision of the Rukh board on the renewal in the party considers this matter taking into consideration the point of view of the unit, that adopted the expulsion decision.

Individuals, expelled from Rukh by Rukh Ukrainian Congress, may be renewed as Rukh members by the decision of Rukh Ukrainian Congress on submission by Rukh Central Board.

Rukh membership renewal must be accompanied by the decision of preserving the total length of party membership.

1. 27. Rukh member, elected or appointed for the position, incompatible with the political party membership, has the right to interrupt his membership in Rukh for the tenure. The interruption of Rukh membership is carried out by submitting of the application to the corresponding oblast organization board or Rukh Political Council stating the reasons for the membership interruption. Oblast organization board or Rukh Political Council takes into account the application and informs about the membership interruption the Rukh unit, where the member is registered.

Rukh member, who interrupted the Rukh membership, after the elimination of the reasons which caused this interruption, may renew his Rukh membership. The membership renewal occurs by submission of the application to the corresponding oblast organization board or Rukh Political council. Oblast organization board or Rukh Political Council takes into account the application and informs about the Rukh membership renewal the Rukh unit, where the member had been registered.

If the individual, who interrupted his Rukh membership, during six months after the elimination of reasons that caused the membership interruption, doesn’t renew his membership, he will be considered a party dropout.

1. 28. Local units and rayon (city, town, village) organizations of Rukh may create groups of Rukh supporters and followers. They may be invited to unit meetings, rayon organizations of Rukh general board meetings having advisory vote only, take part in the organization and realization of mass actions and Rukh election campaigns. The status of the supporter or follower doesn’t give the person the rights of Rukh member.