TASHKENT. May 28 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian legislation on martial law allows for postponing presidential elections, but it does not say anything about extending the powers of an incumbent president, while the Ukrainian constitution stipulates that a president whose term in office has expired must transfer presidential powers to the parliamentary speaker, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"Indeed, there's a need for a thorough and profound analysis, but the first thing that comes into view and what my colleagues have informed me of is that the Ukrainian constitution does provide for extending powers, but only the Rada's powers, and the Ukrainian constitution says nothing about extending the president's powers," Putin told Russian journalists at the conclusion of his visit to Uzbekistan when commenting on discussions regarding Vladimir Zelensky's legitimacy as Ukrainian president after May 20.
Ukrainian legislation on martial law "says that no presidential elections will be held during martial law, but this doesn't mean that [the incumbent president's powers] will be prolonged," he said.
"There's nothing about this in the constitution," he said.
Putin mentioned Article 111 of the Ukrainian constitution, "which says that, in that case, the supreme powers, which in fact means presidential powers, will be transferred to the parliamentary speaker, especially considering that the parliament's powers will be extended while martial law remains in effect."
"This analysis is tentative," Putin said.
"Some specialists say there are some inconsistencies between the constitution, which speaks only about the Rada's extension during martial law, and the legislation, I believe, dating to 2016 that I've just mentioned, which determines the legal status of martial law. As I've said already, it says that presidential elections will not be held, but it doesn't say anywhere that they [the incumbent president's powers] will be prolonged. And this is a problem," he said.