Fact Check: "Ukraine has an illegal government since 2014"
What We Know
The claim that Ukraine has had an "illegal government" since 2014 stems from the events surrounding the ousting of President Viktor Yanukovych. On February 22, 2014, the Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, voted to remove Yanukovych from office, citing his abandonment of duty and responsibility for the deaths of protesters during the Euromaidan protests. However, this removal was not conducted according to the constitutional procedures outlined in Ukraine's Constitution. Article 108 states that the president can only be removed through impeachment, which requires a thorough investigation and a two-thirds majority vote in parliament, a process that was not followed (Assessing the legality of the power changes in Ukraine).
Despite the procedural irregularities, the new government established control over state functions and was recognized in international relations, which complicates the assertion of illegitimacy. According to international law, the government that holds power is considered the legitimate representative of the state, regardless of the means by which it came to power (Assessing the legality of the power changes in Ukraine).
Furthermore, while some sources argue that the Ukrainian government has been illegitimate since 2014, others highlight that Ukraine continues to operate with its own government, parliament, and legal system (Ukraine - Politics, Constitution, Autonomy).
Analysis
The assertion that Ukraine has an illegal government since 2014 is a contentious issue. On one hand, the removal of Yanukovych did not adhere to the constitutional process, leading some to claim that the subsequent government lacks legitimacy. Sources like the European Union vs Disinformation emphasize that the government formed post-Maidan lacks legal standing due to the manner of Yanukovych's ousting.
On the other hand, the argument that the new government is illegitimate is countered by the fact that it has maintained control over Ukraine's state apparatus and has been recognized internationally (Assessing the legality of the power changes in Ukraine). The legal framework of international relations supports the notion that the government in power, regardless of how it was established, is the legitimate representative of the state. This perspective is reinforced by the fact that Ukraine has continued to function as a sovereign state with its own political institutions (Ukraine - Politics, Constitution, Autonomy).
The sources used in this analysis vary in credibility. Academic articles and reports from established institutions provide a more nuanced view of the situation, while some disinformation reports may lack rigorous analysis and could be biased against the Ukrainian government (Elections, Succession, and Legitimacy in Ukraine, Ukrainian government lost its legitimacy after 2014 coup).
Conclusion
The claim that Ukraine has an illegal government since 2014 is Partially True. While it is accurate that the removal of President Yanukovych did not follow constitutional procedures, the subsequent government has effectively maintained control and is recognized as the legitimate representative of Ukraine in international affairs. Therefore, the situation is complex, involving both legal and legitimacy issues that cannot be easily categorized as entirely illegal or legal.
Sources
- Elections, Succession, and Legitimacy in Ukraine
- All Ukrainian governments since 2014 have been illegitimate
- Assessing the legality of the power changes in Ukraine
- Ukrainian government lost its legitimacy after 2014 coup
- Ukraine - Politics, Constitution, Autonomy
- Ukrainian authorities' legitimacy when ...
- General Assembly Adopts Resolution Calling upon States Not ...
- Ukraine: New Law Violates Judicial Independence
