Ukraine. Militia of Ukraine
READING
Ukraine today
Ukraine is the world's 44th-largest country, and it is the second largest country in Europe (after European part of Russia, before metropolitan France). It’s the European country with a long history of national struggle and failures. After the Soviet Union's collapse Ukraine became independent in 1991. The new Constitution of Ukraine was adopted in five years, which turned Ukraine into a semi-presidential republic, and established a stable political system with separate legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The Prime Minister is approved and dismissed by the 450-seat parliament, the Verkhovna Rada. The Parliament also appoints the Cabinet of Ministers. Laws, acts of the Parliament and the Cabinet, presidential edicts, and acts of the Crimean Parliament may be nullified by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, when they are found to violate the Constitution of Ukraine.
In the post-soviet period, Ukraine faced a multitude of very difficult tasks which had to be solved within a short period of time: a new political system had to be built; new statehood principles based on law had to be introduced; a new system of national security and defence had to be created; new relations with other countries of the world had to be established — Ukraine wanted from the very start to be in the European and world community; social, economic and ecological reforms had to be carried out. In the context of low salaries and unemployment within Ukraine, labour emigration became a mass phenomenon at the end of the 1990s. Although estimates vary, approximately three million Ukrainian citizens are currently working abroad, most illegally: in construction, service, housekeeping, and agriculture industries. Moreover, a significant number of women from Ukraine had been dragged into prostitution and sex slavery in foreign lands, mainly Western Europe and Turkey.
All of these factors contribute to the existence of “the shadow economy” which has reached such proportions that about half of the Ukrainian GNP (gross national product) is produced in the “shadow” sector which employs about 11 million people. A sharp social polarization of the Ukrainian population has resulted, with 10 per cent of the population earning 40 per cent of all the revenues.
Among the numerous negative phenomena in Ukraine there are corruption and criminal world consolidation. In a cross-country comparison, Ukraine is still one of the relatively poor and corrupted countries in Europe. For 2006, the Corruption Perceptions Index of Ukraine was 2.8, rank 99 amongst 163 states.
Statistics shows that crime in Ukraine now is on increase, and it is relatively high as for European standards. Present criminal groups have become the “fifth power” in the state. Being always on the front line of combating crime militia is assigned to provide an effective functioning of a reliable mechanism to protect a person, his life, rights and interests. During the last decade the main tasks of militia have been securing human rights, prevention of violent crimes, combating organized crime and banditism.
With the aim of the exchange of law enforcement information and coordination in combating international organized crime, in 1992 Ukraine joined International Criminal Police Organisation at the 61st session of the General Assembly of Interpol. Our country became an equal member of this organisation in 1993 after the setting up of the National Central Bureau.
10x2=20
Task 1. Define the statements to be true (T) or false (F).
- The territory of Ukraine is less than the territory of France.
- The new Constitution of Ukraine was adopted in 1996.
- The Prime Minister can be dismissed by the Cabinet of Ministers.
- The Parliament has the right to nullify laws, acts of the Parliament and the Cabinet, presidential edicts, and acts of the Crimean Parliament.
- The main motives of labour emigration at the end of the 1990s were low salaries and unemployment within Ukraine.
- About two million Ukrainian citizens are currently working abroad illegally.
- A significant number of Ukrainian women had been dragged in sex industry in Western Europe and Turkey.
- About 50 per cent of the Ukrainian gross national product are produced in the “shadow” sector.
- Crime in Ukraine is relatively high but there is a tendency for decreasing.
- Criminal groups have become the “fifth power” in Ukraine.
10x2=20
VOCABULARY
Task 2. Choose the correct Ukrainian equivalent.
1. single-chamber Parliament
a) єдиний парламент b) однопалатний парламент c) незалежний парламент
2. law-based state
a) законний штат b) базове право c) правова держава
3. body of the state power
a) орган державної влади b) законодавча гілка влади c) вищий орган управління
4. independent state
a) незалежний статус b) незалежна держава c) державний штат
5. legislative power
a) законна сила b) законодавча влада c) виконавча влада
6. judicial body
a) юридичний орган b) законодавча влада c) судовий орган
7. Supreme Court
a) Верховний суд b) Високий суд c) Апеляційний суд
8. state armed agency
a) озброєне агентство штату b) державна служба охорони c) державний озброєний орган
9. criminal investigation department
a) департамент охорони власності b) відділ карного розшуку с) протидія злочинним елементам
10. to protect property
a) захищати власність b) придбати майно c) захищати особу
10x2=20
Task 3. Match the synonyms.
1. duty |
a) judiciary |
2. domestic |
b) to fulfil, to carry out |
3. judicial power |
c) obligation |
4. to execute |
d) internal |
5. deputy |
e) offence |
6. crime |
f) Member of Parliament |
7. country |
g) state |
8. drug trafficking |
h) to protect |
9. to safeguard |
i) fighting criminals |
10. combating criminal elements |
j) narcotic dealing |
10x2=20
Task 4. Complete the sentences.
1. The President of Ukraine … |
a) 450 national deputies elected for a 5-year term. |
2. The state system of Ukraine consists of… |
b) higher bodies of the state power and state symbols. |
3. Ukraine has its own territory, government,.. |
c) by the Cabinet of Ministers. |
4. The executive power is presented … |
d) is the head of the state and acts in its name. |
5. Courts decide cases involving … |
e) the legislative, executive and judicial power. |
6. The Verkhovna Rada consists of … |
f) conflicts between citizens and the state. |
7. The Ukrainian Parliament has authority over … |
g) making laws and amending the Constitution. |
8. The militia of Ukraine is the state armed agency… |
h) securing human rights, preventing violent crimes. |
9. The main tasks of militia are… |
i) of the executive power. |
10. Recruitment to militia is done … |
j) on a voluntary basis from persons over 18years old. |
10x2=20
WRITING
Task 5. Finish the sentences.
- The main functions of the Verkhovna Rada are ….
- The Cabinet of Ministers is responsible for…
- The judicial power is presented by …
- According to the Constitution the duties of the citizens are … Every citizen has the right to work, ….
- To my mind, the main task of Ukrainian militia is …
20