House Democracy Partnership Co-Chairs Price and Buchanan React to Emergency Meeting of Ukrainian Parliament

WASHINGTON, DC (March 3, 2022) -- Today, Chairman David Price and Co-Chair Vern Buchanan of the bipartisan House Democracy Partnership (HDP) released a statement on reports of the Ukrainian parliament meeting in-person during the Russian military invasion. Ukraine has been a longstanding HDP partner country and has actively engaged in programming related to the democratic development of the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament).

"In an impressive display of courage, resolve, and national pride, the Verkhovna Rada – Ukraine's parliament – has been meeting in secret to continue legislative business. Today, it is reported that 300 Members of Parliament from multiple political factions met in Parliament for just 15 minutes to vote on several pieces of legislation.

"Many of these Members had to travel from across the country at immense personal risk. Meanwhile, Russia's military has only escalated its bombardment across Ukraine, rendering such an endeavor terribly dangerous. We are in awe of our colleagues' bravery and tremendous sense of duty to their responsibilities as representatives of the Ukrainian people's voices.

"We sincerely hope and pray for the safety and well-being of these Members of Parliament and all Ukrainians in the face of President Putin's belligerent aggression."

###