In the Verkhovna Rada apparatus on request Regarding the number and sources of funding for official foreign visits by the head of the Committee on Freedom of Speech, Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, to Brussels, Vienna and other places, they replied that this information is not subject to disclosure.
Information regarding the number of official visits of people's deputies abroad, their purpose and results is restricted information that is not subject to disclosure upon a request for public information. This is the response provided by the Verkhovna Rada's office regarding the visits abroad of the Chairman of the Committee.
Yaroslav Yurchyshyn himself regularly reports on social networks about visits abroad and has a fairly busy business trip schedule.
Thus, in February 2025, he reported that he was on a business trip to Vienna, at the end of January 2025 he had "two busy days in Brussels", met with representatives of the European Endowment For Democracy (EED), in November 2024 he monitored the US elections in the town of Upper Marlboro in Maryland, etc.
However, the Verkhovna Rada Office noted that information about official visits is not subject to disclosure, as are the sources of funding for such visits by a deputy abroad, in particular, to cover transportation expenses, meals, and accommodation.
Let us remind you that in accordance with Part 5, Article 6 of the Law of Ukraine "On Access to Public Information", information regarding the use of budget funds, including for business trips of people's deputies, cannot be restricted.
Earlier, Yaroslav Yurchyshyn reported on problems in holding roundtables and other events due to the suspension of funding for the USAID program "Rada: The Next Generation", the total cost of which was 25 million US dollars. He stated that now other resources will have to be sought for holding such events.
Let us remind you that according to the procurement plan published on the Cabinet of Ministers' website, $3,65 million was to go to:
- Hotel accommodation and stay
- Eating
- Rental of premises for a seminar/conference
- Handouts, etc.
Another $1,95 million was also allocated for:
- Airline and other tickets
- Transfer and visas
- Accommodation/hotel expenses
At the same time, Yurchyshyn refused to disclose the exact amounts spent from USAID international technical assistance funds to finance the organization of relevant events for his committee. In response to a corresponding request, he stated that his Committee does not have such information.
Yurchyshyn also refused to provide information on whether reports on the use of international technical assistance funds, as required by law, were submitted.
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