Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addresses the 76th session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, United States. September 22, 2021. KYIV, Sept. 23 Reuters - Ukraine's Parliament passed a law on Thursday to allow oligarchs to not register and stay out of politics, a day after an attempt to kill a top aide of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that officials said could have been a response to the reform.
The law, passed in July at the first reading, is meant to define what an oligarch is and says those who fall under the criteria are forbidden from financing political parties or taking part in privatisations.
It must be approved twice and must now be voted on by the president to come into force. Thursday's vote was carried with 279 votes in the 450 - seat parliament.
Serhiy Shefir's team has suggested anger at the law could be behind an attempt to assassinate Zelenskiy, a top aide and close friend of President. He was shot on Wednesday at his car by unidentified individuals as he travelled between two villages outside the capital. Shefir was unharmed though his driver was wounded. Police are interviewing possible witnesses whose nearby mushroom picking was searched for the weapon, Artem Shevchenko said on Thursday with the Interior Ministry's press spokesman.