In this interview, Andriy Parubiy, former Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, shares his experience in parliamentary work and discusses the responsibilities of the Speaker, as well as the stereotypes around the parliament and allegations of corruption. He emphasizes that during his tenure, there was no practice of solving issues through bribes and explains how oligarch-controlled media influenced public perception of the parliament, stressing the importance of institutional independence from the executive branch.
Parubiy talks about the struggle for key state-building laws: decommunization, integration with NATO and the EU, and language legislation. He analyzes the current parliament, noting a shift away from values-based principles and an increased reliance on administrative resources. Parubiy expresses concern about trends towards a presidential republic and the marginalization of the parliament.
The interview also covers the events of the Revolution of Dignity, the media’s role in creating negative stereotypes about government institutions, and the importance of opposition in defending Ukraine’s statehood. Parubiy underscores his personal motivation to strengthen Ukraine’s independence and calls on citizens to value the chance to participate in state-building processes.
