The last term, when the CEC could schedule elections in amalgamated hromadas (AHs) for October this year, expired on 17 August. Now AHs can pursue the case in court.

This idea was expressed by Yuriy Hanushchak, expert of the “Decentralization and administrative-territorial reform” group of the Reanimation Package of Reforms (RPR), in his comment to Ukrinform.

“The fact of inaction of the Central Election Commission will legally begin on 17 August. This is the last moment, when the CEC is obliged to announce elections to take place on the last Sunday of October. This is in accordance with the decision of the CEC itself. Therefore, after this, suits against CEC’ inaction can be filed to administrative court, and the judicial prospects are very high,” said Yuriy Hanushchak.

According to him, litigation on this issue can be fast.

Among other things, the expert stressed: it is now important that the central authorities, which carry out the decentralisation reform, and key state officials react to the situation. Because the process that takes place within the framework of the reform is appreciated by the citizens and its rollup can lead to electoral losses.

Mr Hanushchak reminded that the slowdown of the decentralisation reform has already induced reaction of not only hromadas in the regions and the public, but also international organisations.

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