Kyiv mayor explains possible measures for a state of emergency in Kyiv
Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko explained what a state of emergency would mean for the residents of Kyiv, as well as when it might be introduced during a briefing on Feb. 23.
He said that according to Ukrainian legislation, the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, must decide whether to introduce a state of emergency within 48 hours. Klitschko also said parliament plans to consider this decision today.
If the decision to declare a state of emergency is adopted, this would mean the following:
– Oblast authorities set up control headquarters under the chairmanship of the Regional State Administration / Kyiv City State Administration chiefs;
– Stepped-up checks on entry and exit from the territory of cities and oblasts are set up;
– The movement of vehicles may be restricted and they may be inspected;
– Mass events will be banned;
– Rallies to be prohibited.
Other restrictions may be introduced as well.
“A curfew in the oblasts and cities will not be introduced until a separate decision is made,” Klitschko said.
He noted that the city authorities are in constant contact with the heads of the regional department of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the commander of the Territorial Defense Forces. All the needs for territorial defense will be addressed on an ongoing basis.
Training camps for reservists in battalions and brigades of territorial defense will be organized and held in the near future. These exercises will last 30 days.
As the mayor of the capital noted, all the necessary decisions and measures to introduce a state of emergency in the capital will be taken by the Kyiv control headquarters, which will convene after the relevant decision of the legislature.
“I appeal to the people of Kyiv. Do not panic!” Klitschko said. “The state of emergency that the authorities plan to introduce is a preemptive step in these circumstances to ensure law and order and public safety in cities, towns, and villages, to counter crime, and to prevent possible provocations aimed at destabilizing the situation in the country. This is also to ensure the functioning and operation of critical infrastructure and authorities.”
This comes after the National Security and Defense Council requested that the Ukrainian parliament declares a state of emergency in the country throughout Ukraine, except for in Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts, which are already under a military-civilian administration.
Secretary of the NSDC Oleksiy Danilov did not rule out that, if necessary, martial law could be introduced in Ukraine.
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