Fedir Venislavskyi

Biography

Fedir Venislavskyi is a Member of the Verkhovna Rada of the 9th convocation. He entered parliament in 2019 representing the “Servant of the People” party (No. 88 on the electoral list) and joined the Committee on National Security, Defence and Intelligence.

From 2019 to 2022, he served as the President of Ukraine’s Representative in the Constitutional Court. In this role, he argued that Volodymyr Zelenskyy had legally dissolved the parliament on the grounds that no coalition existed. From 2022 to 2023, the politician served as the President’s Representative in the Verkhovna Rada. He explained his departure from the post by citing his high workload on military projects. He criticised the actions of Mariana Bezuhla, did not support her calls to dismiss General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, and condemned her for actions directed against Oleksandr Syrskyi.

In the media, the MP has effectively become one of the key spokespersons for the ruling party, commenting on issues related to the war and legislative initiatives. He commented on the finalisation of the government’s mobilisation bill, explaining key provisions (electronic summonses; the link between updating military registration data and consular services for men abroad), and commented on the integration of developments into the Law “On the Fundamentals of National Resistance” (accompanying changes to a number of laws). He participated in public communication regarding the introduction of an institution of multiple citizenship. Venislavskyi tests sensitive messages and legitimises the positions of Bankova Street within the legal and defence bloc.

Despite working in the Kharkiv region for a long time, Venislavskyi ran unsuccessfully for parliament four times in Volyn, his home region. He ran once in a majoritarian district in the Kharkiv region, and in 2006, he ran for the “Forward, Ukraine!” party. The party list was then headed by one of the co-authors of the Constitution, Viktor Musiaka. Fedir Venislavskyi defended his dissertation on “Constitutional foundations of the relationship between the legislative and executive branches in Ukraine.”

He was the head of the Kharkiv Public Lustration Chamber and participated in the competition for the head of the NACP, but despite support from the civil sector, he was not successful. He participated in the finalisation of the Law “On Government Cleansing” (Lustration).

Timeline of Key Events

2025

Abstained from voting for the liquidation of the independence of anti-corruption bodies—the NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (Draft #12414). After the law was passed, protests began near Bankova Street, and while Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the law that same day, parliament later passed another law to cancel the effect of the previous one.

Voted for Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk’s controversial bill to abolish the Commercial Code of Ukraine (#6013), which defined general principles of business-state interaction. The law poses risks to national security and was opposed by the “Holka” civic initiative, “Ecology. Law. Person,” the “Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group,” and the Association of Ukrainian Cities.

Additionally, in 2025, Venislavskyi abstained from voting for the so-called “Ihor Mazepa Law” (Draft 12089). This legislative initiative essentially reflected the demands of unscrupulous businesses, including Ihor Mazepa. The law provides for the “resetting” of claims regarding illegally acquired forests and coastal lands if ten years have passed since they entered private ownership. This means that all such land grabs that occurred over the last decade could be legalised. Despite a petition demanding a veto gathering over 25,000 signatures, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the document. The first victim of the “Ihor Mazepa Law” was the case concerning Protasiv Yar, which was defended by the late scout and Kyiv resident Roman Ratushnyi.

Voted for bill #11321 “On Restoring the Openness of Committee Work.” A number of civic organisations and media supported this project to make the work of Verkhovna Rada committees more transparent.

Submitted a legislative initiative to create Space Forces within the structure of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

2024

Supported the bill on prohibiting religious organisations whose governing centres are located in a state carrying out aggression against Ukraine (#8371).

Actively communicated and lobbied for the bill (#10449) changing the rules of mobilisation and military registration. In particular, it provided for the updating of personal data by all conscripts and the obligation to carry a military registration document. Venislavskyi emphasised the more specific definition of the duties of officials and enterprise managers during mobilisation, the increase of fines for violating military registration rules, and the authorities’ acquisition of complete information on the number of conscripts. The law was criticised for the last-minute removal of a provision regarding the possibility of demobilisation for military personnel who have served more than 36 months.

Furthermore, he stated that he supports lowering the mobilisation age from 27 to 25.

2023

Voted for the bill “On the Legalisation of Medical Cannabis,” which allowed the production of medical cannabis in Ukraine for the rehabilitation of wounded military personnel, including for the treatment of PTSD. The adoption of the law was advocated by the “Patients of Ukraine” organisation.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Venislavskyi from his duties as the President’s Representative in parliament.

2022

Voted for the urban planning “reform” (#5655), which was criticised by a number of civic organisations, including CHESNO, DEJURE Foundation, the Association of Ukrainian Cities, the Architectural Chamber of the NSAU, the National Union of Architects of Ukraine, and Dzerkalo Tyzhnia. The European Parliament and European Commission expressed their reservations, and Chatham House noted risks of construction cartels arising from the law.

In the same year, Zelenskyy dismissed Fedir Venislavskyi from his duties as his Representative in the Constitutional Court of Ukraine and simultaneously appointed him as his Representative in the Verkhovna Rada.

Supported the ban on pro-Russian parties and the liquidation of the “Wolf Court”—the Kyiv District Administrative Court.

2021

Accompanied and communicated the Law “On the Fundamentals of National Resistance.” Venislavskyi headed the working group that handled this bill and prepared the necessary changes to other laws.

2020

Fedir Venislavskyi supported Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s bill “On Restoring Public Trust in Constitutional Justice,” which provided for the dissolution of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine and the cancellation of some of its decisions (#4288). Before this, the Constitutional Court had issued a decision that cancelled important provisions of anti-corruption legislation. Legal experts criticised Zelenskyy’s initiative due to its illegality and authoritarian nature. The bill was subsequently withdrawn.

2019

Entered parliament from “Servant of the People” (District No. 88, Ivano-Frankivsk region) and joined the Committee on National Security, Defence and Intelligence. At the time of his election, he worked as an Associate Professor at the Department of Constitutional Law of Ukraine at the Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University.

Shortly after taking office, Zelenskyy appointed Venislavskyi as his Representative in the Constitutional Court. Fedir Venislavskyi represented the President in the Constitutional Court during the consideration of a petition by 62 MPs regarding the unconstitutionality of the decree to dissolve the Verkhovna Rada of the 13th convocation. Venislavskyi’s position was that there had been no coalition in parliament since 2016; therefore, the decree to dissolve the Verkhovna Rada was in accordance with the law. Following the consideration of the petition, the Constitutional Court recognised the decree as constitutional.

2016

Ran for parliament during by-elections in Volyn (District No. 23). Placed fourth. At the time, he worked as an Associate Professor at the Department of Constitutional Law of Ukraine at the Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University.

2015

Unsuccessfully applied for the position of Head of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention.

2014

Ran for the Verkhovna Rada as an independent candidate (District No. 23, Volyn region) but was not elected. Placed third, gaining 13% of the vote.

Headed the Kharkiv Public Lustration Chamber.

2012

Participated in parliamentary elections (District No. 181, Kharkiv region). At the time, he was an Associate Professor in the Kharkiv region. Placed third, with just over 11%.

2006

Ran for parliament for the party “Forward, Ukraine!” The party list was headed by then-MP and co-author of the Constitution, Viktor Musiaka.

2002

Ran as an independent candidate for the Verkhovna Rada in the Kharkiv region (District No. 23). At the time, he was an Assistant at the Department of Constitutional Law of Ukraine at the Yaroslav Mudryi National Law Academy of Ukraine.

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