Law No. 393/96-VR “On Citizens’ Appeals”.

This Law shall regulate the issue of practical exercise by the citizens of Ukraine of the right, granted by the Constitution of Ukraine, to make proposals to the government authorities, citizens’ associations under their charter on the improvement of their activity, discover shortcomings in the work, appeal against actions of officials, government and public authorities. The Law shall ensure that the citizens of Ukraine are able to participate in management of the state and public affairs, influence the improvement of work of government authorities and local governments, enterprises, institutions, organizations irrespective of the form of ownership, assert their rights and legitimate interests and restore them in case of violation. Citizens of Ukraine shall have the right to file observations, complaints and proposals with the government authorities, local governments, citizens associations, enterprises, institutions, organizations irrespective of the form of ownership, media, officials according to their functional duties related to their statutory activity, as well as application or motion on the exercise of their socio-economic, political and personal rights and legitimate interests and a complaint on their violation. Persons who are not citizens of Ukraine and legally stay on its territory shall have the same right to file appeals as the citizens of Ukraine, unless otherwise provided for by international treaties. Proposal (observation) shall mean citizens’ appeals expressing the advice, recommendations on the activity of government authorities and local governments, councils of all levels, officials, as well as opinions on the regulation of public relations and living conditions of citizens, improving the legal basis of state and public life, social and cultural and other fields of activity of the state and society. Application (motion) shall mean citizens’ appeals with a request to promote the exercise of their rights and interests enshrined by the Constitution and current legislation or notification of violations of current legislation or shortcomings in the activity of enterprises, institutions, organizations irrespective of the form of ownership, Members of Parliament of Ukraine, councils, officials, as well as expressing the opinions on improving their activity. Motion shall mean a written request for recognizing person’s status, rights or freedoms, etc. Complaint shall mean a request to restore the rights and protect the legitimate interests of citizens violated by actions (inaction), decisions of government authorities, local governments, enterprises, institutions, organizations, citizens’ associations, officials. Government authorities and local governments, enterprises, institutions, organizations irrespective of the form of ownership, citizens’ associations, officials must consider the proposals (observations) and notify a citizen of the results of consideration. A citizen who has filed an application or complaint with government authorities, local governments, enterprises, institutions, organizations irrespective of the form of ownership, citizens’ associations, media, officials, shall have the right to receive a written response following the results of considering the application or complaint and to demand compensation for losses if they resulted from violations of the determined procedure for considering the appeals. Appeals shall be considered and resolved within no more than one month after receiving them, and appeals requiring no additional study — immediately, but no later than fifteen days after the date of their receipt.