Konovalyuk Commission
Encyclopedia
The Konovalyuk Commission, officially, the "Temporary Commission of the Parliament of Ukraine on Clarifying the Circumstances and Investigating the Facts of Supplies of Ukrainian Military Equipment to Georgia in Violation of Ukrainian Legislation and International Law" , was an ad hoc
commission formed in the Ukrainian
parliament
to investigate the legality of arms exports from Ukraine to Georgia
and Ukraine's involvement in the 2008 South Ossetia War
. The commission, headed by Valeriy Konovalyuk
of the Party of Regions
, was formed on September 2, 2008. In December 2008, the commission released a report, accusing the Ukrainian leadership of arming Georgia in violation of Ukrainian and international law. On December 19, 2008, the parliament heard the report and decided to consider it and to forward it to the President
and the Prime Minister of Ukraine
, while the office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine
is requested to evaluate its findings. The Prosecutor General is further asked to give a legal evaluation of the measures taken by Ukraine's security services and the Ministry of Defence
that, according to the commission, were aimed at interfering with its investigation. At the same time, the parliament refused to extend the commission's mandate until June 2009 and to suspend the weapons exports to Georgia, as suggested by the commission.
On August 7, 2008, a war broke out between Georgia on one side and its secessionist territories of South Ossetia
and Abkhazia
, supported by Russia
, on another. Shortly after, Russia accused Ukraine of illegally supplying the Georgian Army with weapons and claimed that the Ukrainian mercenaries
participated in the conflict on the Georgian side. Ukraine denies illegal export of its weapons and involvement of its nationals in the conflict. A commission was thus created in the Ukrainian parliament to investigate the Russian claims.
representing every political party or bloc in the parliament, except for the pro-presidential Our Ukraine–People's Self-Defense Bloc.
s, BTR armoured personnel carrier
s, 2S7 Pion
self-propelled artillery
units, Grad
multiple rocket launcher
units, and Mil Mi-24
attack helicopters just prior to the onset of the South Ossetian war. The report also claims that some weapons exports were conducted in a manner detrimental to Ukraine's defence: a number of Buk missile system units sold to Georgia were taken off active duty, thus diminishing Ukraine's air defence capabilities. Furthemore, the report alleges widespread financial machinations involving weapons being sold for prices 3–5 times lower than the market value and payments not reaching Ukraine's budget. Additionally, the commission released a list of Ukrainian military specialists, thought to had been present in Georgia during the onset of the war.
Ad hoc
Ad hoc is a Latin phrase meaning "for this". It generally signifies a solution designed for a specific problem or task, non-generalizable, and not intended to be able to be adapted to other purposes. Compare A priori....
commission formed in the Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
parliament
Verkhovna Rada
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is Ukraine's parliament. The Verkhovna Rada is a unicameral parliament composed of 450 deputies, which is presided over by a chairman...
to investigate the legality of arms exports from Ukraine to Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
and Ukraine's involvement in the 2008 South Ossetia War
2008 South Ossetia war
The 2008 South Ossetia War or Russo-Georgian War was an armed conflict in August 2008 between Georgia on one side, and Russia and separatist governments of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on the other....
. The commission, headed by Valeriy Konovalyuk
Valeriy Konovalyuk
Valeriy Illich Konovalyuk , is a Ukrainian economist and politician. He has been elected to the Verhovna Rada three times . Currently, he is a member of the Party of Regions and the Head of the Konovalyuk Commission.-References:...
of the Party of Regions
Party of Regions
The Party of Regions is an Ukrainian political party created on October 26, 1997 just prior to the 1998 Ukrainian parliamentary elections under the name of Party of Regional Revival of Ukraine. It was reformed later in 2001 when the party united with several others...
, was formed on September 2, 2008. In December 2008, the commission released a report, accusing the Ukrainian leadership of arming Georgia in violation of Ukrainian and international law. On December 19, 2008, the parliament heard the report and decided to consider it and to forward it to the President
President of Ukraine
Prior to the formation of the modern Ukrainian presidency, the previous Ukrainian head of state office was officially established in exile by Andriy Livytskyi. At first the de facto leader of nation was the president of the Central Rada at early years of the Ukrainian People's Republic, while the...
and the Prime Minister of Ukraine
Prime Minister of Ukraine
The Prime Minister of Ukraine is Ukraine's head of government presiding over the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, which is the highest body of the executive branch of the Ukrainian government....
, while the office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine
Prosecutor General of Ukraine
The Prosecutor General of Ukraine heads the system of official prosecution in courts known as the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine...
is requested to evaluate its findings. The Prosecutor General is further asked to give a legal evaluation of the measures taken by Ukraine's security services and the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (Ukraine)
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine was established on September 24, 1991, one month after Ukraine's declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. The ministry was in charge of reorganizing all Soviet forces on the Ukrainian terrain under its command...
that, according to the commission, were aimed at interfering with its investigation. At the same time, the parliament refused to extend the commission's mandate until June 2009 and to suspend the weapons exports to Georgia, as suggested by the commission.
Background
South Ossetia
South Ossetia or Tskhinvali Region is a disputed region and partly recognized state in the South Caucasus, located in the territory of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast within the former Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic....
and Abkhazia
Abkhazia
Abkhazia is a disputed political entity on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus.Abkhazia considers itself an independent state, called the Republic of Abkhazia or Apsny...
, supported by Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, on another. Shortly after, Russia accused Ukraine of illegally supplying the Georgian Army with weapons and claimed that the Ukrainian mercenaries
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
participated in the conflict on the Georgian side. Ukraine denies illegal export of its weapons and involvement of its nationals in the conflict. A commission was thus created in the Ukrainian parliament to investigate the Russian claims.
Members of the commission
The commission was composed of 6 people's deputiesDeputy (legislator)
A deputy is a legislator in many countries, particularly those with legislatures styled as a 'Chamber of Deputies' or 'National Assembly'.-List of countries:This is an list of countries using the term 'deputy' or one of its cognates....
representing every political party or bloc in the parliament, except for the pro-presidential Our Ukraine–People's Self-Defense Bloc.
- Valeriy Konovalyuk (Party of Regions) – Head of Commission
- Igor Alekseyev (Communist Party of UkraineCommunist Party of UkraineThe Communist Party of Ukraine is a political party in Ukraine, currently led by Petro Symonenko.The party fights the Ukrainian national self-determination by identifying any Ukrainian national parties as the National-Fascist ones The Communist Party of Ukraine is a political party in Ukraine,...
) – Deputy Head of Commission - Valeriy Bondyk (Party of Regions)
- Serhiy Hrynevetsky (Lytvyn Bloc)
- Serhiy Osyka (Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc)
- Mykola Petruk (Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc)
Investigation and findings
The commission summarized its findings in a report, issued in December 2008. It concluded that Ukraine exported a variety of offensive weapons, such as tanks, BMP infantry fighting vehicleInfantry fighting vehicle
An infantry fighting vehicle , also known as a mechanized infantry combat vehicle , is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide fire support for them...
s, BTR armoured personnel carrier
Armoured personnel carrier
An armoured personnel carrier is an armoured fighting vehicle designed to transport infantry to the battlefield.APCs are usually armed with only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles , or mortars...
s, 2S7 Pion
2S7 Pion
The 2S7 Pion or Malka is a Soviet self-propelled gun. "2S7" is its GRAU designation.It was identified for the first time in 1975 in the Soviet army and so was called M-1975 by NATO , whereas its official designation is SO-203...
self-propelled artillery
Self-propelled artillery
Self-propelled artillery vehicles are combat vehicles armed with artillery. Within the term are covered self-propelled guns and rocket artillery...
units, Grad
BM-21
The BM-21 launch vehicle , a Soviet truck-mounted 122 mm multiple rocket launcher, and a M-21OF rocket were developed in the early 1960s. BM stands for boyevaya mashina, ‘combat vehicle’, and the nickname means ‘hail’. The complete system with the BM-21 launch vehicle and the M-21OF rocket...
multiple rocket launcher
Multiple rocket launcher
A multiple rocket launcher is a type of unguided rocket artillery system. Like other rocket artillery, multiple rocket launchers are less accurate and have a much lower rate of fire than batteries of traditional artillery guns...
units, and Mil Mi-24
Mil Mi-24
The Mil Mi-24 is a large helicopter gunship and attack helicopter and low-capacity troop transport with room for 8 passengers. It is produced by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and operated since 1972 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and by over thirty other nations.In NATO circles the export...
attack helicopters just prior to the onset of the South Ossetian war. The report also claims that some weapons exports were conducted in a manner detrimental to Ukraine's defence: a number of Buk missile system units sold to Georgia were taken off active duty, thus diminishing Ukraine's air defence capabilities. Furthemore, the report alleges widespread financial machinations involving weapons being sold for prices 3–5 times lower than the market value and payments not reaching Ukraine's budget. Additionally, the commission released a list of Ukrainian military specialists, thought to had been present in Georgia during the onset of the war.