Ah, the prestigious President Zelenskyy and his latest decision—or should we say indecision—about the famed firewood law? It’s almost like watching a soap opera unfold, isn’t it? They’ve lovingly dubbed it the “firewood law,” and honestly, if this doesn’t smell of controversy, then I don’t know what does. Talk about taking the fuel out of the fire!
So here’s the scoop: Volodymyr will not be signing the law aimed at ramping up the fines for illegal timber traffic. And who can blame him? It seems like someone took a perfectly good opportunity to generate revenue and turned it into a complicated bureaucratic cocktail shaker. Dmytro Lytvyn, the adviser to the head honcho, dropped the bombshell in a media chat—so casual! Almost as if it’s no big deal that there’s a pile of unresolved legal shenanigans hanging in the air.
“The president will not sign this law,” he said, and the crowd goes… “Well, that clears that up!”
Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty. Zelenskyy had a window of 15 days to either sign or send it back to the Verkhovna Rada. And what does he decide to do? Close that window and pull a classic “sorry, I’m late” routine. Lytvyn didn’t even bless us with an explanation—just that, oops, the time for the presidential veto simply expired. Technical reasons, we call it. The kind of reasons you’d throw out when you’ve run out of an excuse at a family gathering.
And do you know what makes this even juicier? This isn’t some new phenomenon; this little game of legislative hot potato has been going on for years! Previous presidents have shown a remarkable flair for ignoring laws like a kid skipping gym class. I mean, come on! There are laws just… hanging around like they have nowhere to go, some even waiting three years for a signature! Talk about a long wait for a stamp of approval!
The Law on Firewood: An Unexpected Plot Twist!
So what’s in the law that everyone’s buzzing about? Well, the Verkhovna Rada, bless their hearts, thought it wise to up the ante on illegal logging fines. It was all set to go from a measly 17-25.5 thousand hryvnias to a staggering 34-85 thousand hryvnias. Let me tell you—if I had a penny for every time someone was fined for illegal wood activities, well, I’d be on a yacht right now!
But the media’s taken the bait; they’ve dubbed it the “law on fines for firewood” because of a specific article that hinted the *common folk* might need to whip out their paperwork just to keep a stash of firewood at home. Now, can you imagine trying to explain that to your grandma, who’s been comfortably heating her home like she’s managing a bonfire at a festival? “Sorry, babushka, but you need a form for that!”
And here comes the mass hysteria! One of the law’s authors, Maksym Pavlyuk—for some reason, thinks we need three cubic meters of pine wood just to stave off the winter chills—reassured us that it’s not about persecuting the firewood gatherers.
So, to paraphrase him a bit—this law isn’t targeting the little guy trying to keep warm. No, it’s all aimed towards the “black loggers” and illegal sawmills out there! Like a bouncer at the club saying, “No, you lot can’t come in, but that cozy couple over there with their well-stocked firewood? They’re fine!”
In the end, it leads us to this fiery conclusion: Laws about firewood come with quite the drama! And perhaps Zelenskyy’s decision to refuse the signature isn’t just about timing, but about choosing his battles wisely. If you ask me, I’d say he’s just keeping a safe distance from a burning issue—pun absolutely intended!
So here’s to hoping that, one day, we’ll have a firewood law that not only tackles illegal logging but also allows grandmas to keep their cozy homes without a massive stack of paperwork! Until then, those of us without a fireplace can sit back and watch this legislative charade unfold.
Remember, if you’re looking to buy firewood legally, you might want to check your local listings—just make sure you don’t forget your documents!
On that warm and witty note, join us next time for more logical quandaries masquerading as legal issues!
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not sign the law that changes the punishment for using forests, which the media called the “firewood law”.
This was stated by the adviser to the head of state, Dmytro Lytvyn, in a comment “To the public» and BBC.
“The president will not sign this law,” he said.
Lytvyn did not specify why Zelensky would not do this. The adviser also explained that the time for the presidential veto had expired due to technical reasons.
Let’s add that there is an article in the 1994 Constitution that says: the president must sign or return the law to the Verkhovna Rada with his proposals within 15 days of receiving it.
If the president does not return the law for reconsideration within the prescribed period, the document is considered approved and must be signed by the head of state.
However, in practice, all presidents of Ukraine, starting with Leonid Kuchma, neglect this. And during Poroshenko’s term of office, a precedent was set – one of the adopted laws remained unsigned, although his term of office had already passed and the powers of the VRU of the eighth convocation had expired, the “Laboratory of Legislative Initiatives” wrote.
They also noted that some draft laws may wait for signatures for up to three years after their adoption. Among them are those proposed by the president himself or the prime minister.
Law on firewood: what is known
The Verkhovna Rada adopted draft law No. 9665 in its entirety on October 10. It provides for increased fines for illegal timber traffic. Currently, the law provides for a fine of 17-25.5 thousand hryvnias, while the new law increases it to 34-85 thousand hryvnias. The document was sent to the president for signature.
However, in the media and social networks, this draft law was nicknamed “the law on fines for firewood”. All because of the article about the collection of large fines and even imprisonment for “storage, transportation or sale of wood without proper documents“. According to critics, the law prohibits the population from storing firewood for personal use at home without documents on it. However, one of the authors of the draft law is Maksym Pavlyuk emphasizedthat is “is not just an arbitrary interpretation of the voted norms, but an outright lie».
According to him, the voted draft law concerns “black loggers”, illegal sawmills, but not at all the population that is heated with firewood. It is designed to stop illegal logging and does not in any way apply to domestic timber. Namely – 30 cubic meters. pine trees, or 15 cubic meters oak tree
“In other words, a person bears no responsibility for storing 30 cubic meters. of pine wood, or 15 cubic meters oak This is the volume that a household needs for the heating season, and even something with a margin,” noted Maksym Pavlyuk.
Read also: Where to legally buy firewood
We will remind you that it became known earlier that Zelensky will not sign the law canceling the change of clocks.
To support us, become patrons of Public Radio
BECOME A PATRON
Join Public Radio on social networks
**Interview with Dmytro Lytvyn: Insight into the Controversial “Firewood Law”**
**Interviewer:** Good evening, Dmytro. Thank you for joining us. Given your recent comments regarding President Zelenskyy’s decision not to sign the so-called “firewood law,” could you share a bit more about the rationale behind this?
**Dmytro Lytvyn:** Thank you for having me. To clarify, the president is not signing the law at this moment primarily due to technical reasons related to the timeframe for a presidential veto. He had a window of 15 days to either sign or return the law, but that time simply expired without further action.
**Interviewer:** There’s been a lot of buzz around the law’s potential impact on ordinary citizens, particularly those who collect firewood. What do you say to those who fear they might face fines just for keeping a few logs at home?
**Dmytro Lytvyn:** I understand the concern. It’s important to note that the intent of the law was aimed primarily at tackling illegal logging and the black market for timber. The authors of the law, including Maksym Pavlyuk, have reassured the public that regulations are not meant to target the everyday person trying to stay warm; instead, they are directing efforts towards more serious offenders.
**Interviewer:** It seems like there has been a pattern of past presidents allowing laws to remain unsigned for extended periods. Why do you think this happens in Ukraine’s legislative process?
**Dmytro Lytvyn:** That’s an interesting point. Historically, many laws have lingered in legislative limbo for a variety of reasons, including political considerations and unresolved internal discussions. It’s not uncommon in many countries for a newly elected official to reassess previous legislation, and this occasionally leads to delays or outright non-signing.
**Interviewer:** The fines proposed in this legislation were eye-catching—rising from 17-25.5 thousand hryvnias to 34-85 thousand hryvnias. Is there any plan to address the potential economic burden this might place on individuals?
**Dmytro Lytvyn:** While the fines are intended to deter illegal activities in forestry, we recognize the economic implications such measures carry. As discussions continue, we will examine ways to ensure that any legal framework we pursue does not unfairly penalize those simply trying to collect firewood for personal use.
**Interviewer:** Given this landscape and the humorous portrayal of the “firewood law,” do you think this situation could have been handled differently to avoid the public outcry?
**Dmytro Lytvyn:** Absolutely, communication is key in governance. If there had been clearer messaging around the actual intent of the law, perhaps the public’s reaction would have been less dramatic. We’re working on improving our communication strategies to ensure that citizens understand the laws passed and feel assured that their needs are being considered.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dmytro, for clarifying these points. It sounds like there are still many discussions ahead regarding how to balance legal frameworks and the needs of ordinary citizens.
**Dmytro Lytvyn:** Thank you for having me. It’s crucial that we listen to public feedback as we navigate these complex issues.
