Co-Author of Ukraine’s Constitution and Former Deputy Prime Minister Serhiy Osyka Dies at 68.

Serhiy Osyka Passes Away

According to Novyny.live: A former Ukrainian lawmaker who served three convocations and once held the post of deputy prime minister, Serhiy Osyka, died on June 16, 2023. He was widely recognized as one of the co-authors of Ukraine’s Constitution. His contributions left a lasting impact on the nation’s political landscape and legal framework.

Life and Political Career

Born on March 27, 1955, in Kyiv, Osyka was a people’s deputy in the fourth, fifth, and sixth convocations of the Verkhovna Rada. During his tenure, he was an active member of the Committee on Legal Policy and also served as deputy head of the Committee on Finance, as well as the Committee on State Building, Regional Policy, and Local Self-Government. He also held the position of first deputy head of the Committee on Economic Policy.

A defining chapter of his career came between 1994 and 1996, when he served on the Constitutional Commission, working on the draft of Ukraine’s Constitution, which was ultimately adopted on June 28, 1996. The Verkhovna Rada issued a statement:

“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Serhiy Osyka, a people’s deputy of Ukraine from the fourth, fifth, and sixth convocations. Serhiy Osyka was among the scholars who prepared the draft Constitution of Ukraine for a vote in the session hall. He was a member of the Constitutional Commission appointed by the President of Ukraine in 1994–1996.”

Osyka also focused on foreign economic affairs during his political career. In 1993, he was appointed first deputy minister of foreign economic relations, and in 1994, he became the head of that ministry. By 1995, he had been named deputy prime minister for foreign economic policy. He was first elected to parliament in 2002, but was later expelled from the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc (BYuT) faction in 2010.

For his service, Osyka received the Order of Merit, third class, and the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, fifth class—honors that underscore his significant role in building Ukraine’s statehood and legal system. His death represents a loss not only for his family but for the entire Ukrainian political community.

The passing of Serhiy Osyka highlights the importance of his role in shaping modern Ukraine, particularly in crafting the Constitution that underpins the country’s legal order. His work in politics and state-building leaves a deep imprint on the public consciousness, and his legacy will continue to resonate within Ukraine’s political and legislative spheres.