Declaration on State Sovereignty of Ukraine

The Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR

• expressing the will of the people of Ukraine;
• striving to create a democratic society;
• acting on the need for all-encompassing guarantees of the rights and freedoms of man;
• respecting the national rights of all nations;
• caring about the full-fledged political, economic, social and spiritual development of the people of Ukraine;
• recognizing the necessity of establishing a lawful state;
• having as a goal the affirmation of the sovereignty and self-rule of the people of Ukraine;

PROCLAIMS

the state sovereignty of Ukraine as supremacy, independence, fullness and indivisibility of the republic's authority within the boundaries of its territory, and its independence and equality in external relations.

I. Self-Determination of the Ukrainian Nation

The Ukrainian SSR, as a sovereign national state, develops within existing boundaries on the basis of the realization of the Ukrainian nation's inalienable right to self-determination.

The Ukrainian SSR effectuates the protection and defense of the national statehood of the Ukrainian people.

Any violent actions against the national statehood of Ukraine on the part of political parties, public organizations, other groups or individuals will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

II. Rule of the People

Citizens of the republic of all nationalities comprise the people of Ukraine.

The people of Ukraine are the sole source of state authority in the republic.

The complete authority of the people of Ukraine is realized directly on the basis of the republic's constitution, as well as via people's deputies elected to the supreme and local soviets [councils] of the Ukrainian SSR.

Only the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR can speak in the name of all the people. No political party, public organization, other group or individual can speak in the name of all the people of Ukraine.

III. State Authority

The Ukrainian SSR is independent in determining any questions regarding its state affairs.

The Ukrainian SSR guarantees the supremacy of the constitution and laws of the republic on its territory.

State authority in the republic is realized in accordance with the principle of its division into lawmaking, executive and judicial [branches].

The highest authority as regards the precise and uniform application of the law is the general procurator of the Ukrainian SSR, who is appointed by the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR, and is responsible and accountable to it.

IV. Citizenship of the Ukrainian SSR

The Ukrainian SSR has its own citizenship and guarantees each citizen the right to retain citizenship of the USSR.

The basis for acquiring and forfeiting citizenship of the Ukrainian SSR is determined by the law on citizenship of the Ukrainian SSR.

All citizens of the Ukrainian SSR are guaranteed rights and freedoms provided by the Constitution of the Ukrainian SSR and by standards of international law recognized by the Ukrainian SSR.

The Ukrainian SSR guarantees equality before the law to all citizens of the republic regardless of their ancestry, social or economic status, racial or national identity, sex, education, language, political views, religious beliefs, type and character of activities, place of residence or other circumstances.

The Ukrainian SSR regulates immigration procedures.

The Ukrainian SSR expresses its concern and uses its means to defend and guarantee the interests of citizens of the Ukrainian SSR beyond the republic's borders.

V. Territorial Supremacy

The Ukrainian SSR exercises supremacy on all of its territory.

The territory of the Ukrainian SSR within existing boundaries is inviolable and cannot be changed or used without its consent.

The Ukrainian SSR independently determines the administrative-territorial system of the republic and the procedures for establishing national-administrative units.

VI. Economic Independence

The Ukrainian SSR independently determines its economic status and secures it by law.

The people of Ukraine have the exclusive right to control, use and direct the national resources of Ukraine.

The land, its interior (mineral wealth), air space, water and other natural resources found on the territory of the Ukrainian SSR, the natural resources of its continental shelf and exclusive (maritime) economic zone, and all economic and scientific-technical potential created on the territory of Ukraine are the property of its people, the material foundation of the republic's sovereignty, and is used with the aim of providing for the material and spiritual needs of its citizens.

The Ukrainian SSR has the right to its share of the all-union wealth, especially in all-union gemstone and hard currency stocks and gold reserves, which were created through the efforts of the people of the republic.

Determination of questions concerning all-union property (joint property of all republics) is made on the basis of agreements between the republics - by the subjects of this property.

Businesses, institutions, organizations and objects of other states and their citizens, and international organizations may exist on the territory of the Ukrainian SSR and may use the natural resources of Ukraine in accordance with the laws of the Ukrainian SSR.

The Ukrainian SSR independently establishes banking (Including a foreign economic bank), pricing, financial, customs and tax systems, prepares a state budget, and, if necessary, introduces its own currency.

The highest credit institution of the Ukrainian SSR is the national bank of Ukraine, which is accountable to the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR.

Businesses, institutions, organizations and manufacturing concerns located on the territory of the Ukrainian SSR pay a fee for use of land and other natural and labor resources, and a portion of their currency income, and pay taxes to local budgets.

The Ukrainian SSR guarantees protection for all forms of ownership.

VII. Ecological Safety

The Ukrainian SSR independently determines procedures for organizing nature protection on the territory of the republic and procedures for the use of natural resources.

The Ukrainian SSR has its own national committee on protection of the population from radiation.

The Ukrainian SSR has the right to ban construction and to halt the operation of any businesses, institutions, organizations and other objects that constitute a threat to ecological safety.

The Ukrainian SSR cares about the ecological safety of its citizens, about the genetic stock [henofond] of its people and about its young generation.

The Ukrainian SSR has the right to compensation for damages to the ecology of Ukraine brought about by the acts of union organs.

VIII. Cultural Development

The Ukrainian SSR is independent in deciding questions of science, education, and the cultural and spiritual development of the Ukrainian nation and guarantees all nationalities living on the territory of the republic the right to free national-cultural development.

The Ukrainian SSR guarantees the national-cultural rebirth of the Ukrainian nation, Its historical consciousness and traditions, national-ethnographic characteristics, and functioning of the Ukrainian language in all spheres of social activity.

The Ukrainian SSR concerns itself with satisfying the national-cultural, spiritual and language needs of Ukrainians living outside of the republic's borders.

National, cultural and historical wealth on the territory of the Ukrainian SSR are the sole property of the people of the republic.

The Ukrainian SSR has the right to [secure] the return to the people of Ukraine its national, cultural and historical wealth found outside the borders of the Ukrainian SSR.

IX. External and Internal Security

The Ukrainian SSR has the right to its own armed forces.

The Ukrainian SSR has Its own internal armies and organs of state security, subordinate to the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR.

The Ukrainian SSR determines procedures for military service by citizens of the republic.

Citizens of the Ukrainian SSR perform their military service, as a rule, on the territory of the republic, and cannot be used for military aims beyond its borders without the consent of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR.

The Ukrainian SSR solemnly declares its intention of becoming a permanently neutral state that does not participate in military blocs and adheres to three nuclear-free principles: not to accept, not to produce and not to purchase nuclear weapons.

X. International Relations

The Ukrainian SSR, as subject to international law, conducts direct relations with other states, enters into agreements with them, exchanges diplomatic, consular and trade representatives, and participates in the activity of international organizations to the full extent necessary for effective guarantees of the republic's national interests in political, economic, ecological, informational, scholarly technical, cultural and sports spheres.

The Ukrainian SSR acts as an equal participant in international affairs, actively promotes the reinforcement of general peace and international security, and directly participates in the general European process and European structures.

The Ukrainian SSR recognizes the pre-eminence of general human values over class values and the priority of generally accepted standards of international law over standards of internal state law.

* * *

Relations of the Ukrainian SSR with other Soviet republics are built on the basis of agreements entered into on the basis of the principles of equality, mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs.

The Declaration is the basis for a new constitution and laws of Ukraine and denotes the positions of the republic in concluding international agreements. The principles of the Declaration of the Sovereignty of Ukraine are utilized in the preparation of a new union agreement.

(Translated by Roma Hadzewycz, The Ukrainian Weekly.)

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, July 22, 1990, No. 29, Vol. LVIII

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