Access to information and state secrets Sep.1999

Access to the information on the activity of power bodies and other official information is becoming more and more limited because of the severe control over mass media, especially those of the opposition. So, out of 833 Presidential Edicts signed from January to July, 24 are not published. In the corresponding database these Edicts are represented by the number, the date when the Edict was signed and the remark . Not for print. . What do these edicts order, which decisions are taken on behalf of us, why must they not be published? On the other hand, according to Article 57 of the Constitution of Ukraine, any . normative and legal acts determining rights and duties of citizens and not made public in the legally stated procedure, are null and void. . One may only hope that the guarantor of the Constitution will not violate this article.

On 13 March, 1999, the President signed Edict No. 250/99 . On the changes in the system of central organs of the executive power in Ukraine. , according to #1-b of which, the State Committee on state secrets and technical protection of information must be liquidated, and its functions and rights are passed to the USS.