Yelyzaveta Yasko

Member of the 9th Verkhovna Rada since August 2019, Lisa is number 15 in the list of "Servant of the People".[9] She is a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and interparliamentary cooperation, head of interparliamentary cooperation, bilateral and multilateral relationships. Yasko is a leader of inter-fraction group "Happy Ukraine", aimed to foster the development of happiness in the Ukrainian society and facilitate social dialogue, well-being, feeling of security and hope for the future. She is also a member of the "Brand of the Ukrainian state" group.

Lisa actively collaborates with the expert community, setting up regular expert talks in the Verkhovna Rada.[10][11] She also supports the development of Romani communities and Roma’s rights in Ukraine.

Yasko expressed her concerns regarding the preliminary agreement by Ukraine to the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk proposals on the envisioned Advisory Council. According to her, it could undermine the international support of Ukraine in the conflict and legitimize Russian proxies in Eastern Ukraine.[12]

She also publicly supported the legislative motion on regulating the process of compensation for the former owners of the nationalised banks, marked as critical for unblocking IMF's financial support of Ukraine and preventing the default of the Ukrainian state.[13]

Yasko engaged in drafting legislation on a range of issues, including the regulation of lobbying,[14] countering corruption,[15] equal representation,[16] remedial action in the wake of Russian military aggression in Ukraine.[17] She was also among the initiators of the Verkhovna Rada Appeal to the Parliaments and Inter-parliamentary Organisations concerning the condemnation of Russian aggression and numerous human rights violations in the occupied Crimea,[18] and of the Statement on nonrecognition of the legitimacy of elections held by Russia in Crimea and Sevastopol.[19]

Head of Ukrainian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe since September 17, 2019.

Ukrainian delegation headed by Yasko refrained from participating in the PACE Autumn session 2019. It was a sign of protest against Russia’s reinstatement to the Assembly without meeting the requirements of the Assembly resolutions adopted in response to Russian aggression against Ukraine.[20]

Instead, Yasko held consultations with the representatives of other delegations, including those who voted in favour of Russia's return to the organisation.[21] This resulted in the establishment of the informal inter-parliamentary group Baltic Plus, together with the delegations of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Georgia. The aim of the inter-parliamentary group is to produce joint efforts to combat Russia’s efforts to undermine the efficiency and legitimacy of PACE and to present a positive agenda on culture, migration, human rights and digitalisation.[22]

On January 16, 2020, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine sent its delegation to the 2020 winter PACE session. Yasko explained the return with the "need to battle [for Ukraine] in new conditions at all possible grounds".[23]

Ukrainian delegation initiated concerns regarding the credentials of Russian delegation in the Assembly and spoke against nominating Petr Tolstoi for the Vice President of PACE. It justified its concerns by Russia's systemic failure to comply with the Assembly’s resolutions concerning Ukraine and Georgia and presence of Russian MPs elected in the fake elections in the occupied Crimea. Yasko also noted that the goals for the delegation for the Winter Session 2020 would be the de-occupation of Crimea, countering Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine, liberation of political prisoners, implementation of Minsk agreements, enhancement of the international sanctions, as well as fight against authoritarianism in Russia itself.[24]

On January 31, 2020, the Ukrainian delegation, together with the representatives of Estonia, Great Britain, Georgia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Slovakia and Sweden, signed the joint declaration expressing regret of the Assembly's approval of the credentials submitted by the Russian Federation.The signatories to the declaration also demanded on Russia’s implementation of resolutions adopted in previous years in respect of the armed aggression in Ukraine, Georgia, and of the utmost concern at the treatment of Crimean Tatars.

At the winter session in 2020 Yasko also delivered a speech condemning Russia's numerous violations of international law and human rights, including the rights of Crimean Tatars.[25]