The Ministry of Justice is responsible for the registration of public associations, including branches of international organisations and foreign non-profit NGOs. Territorial authorities accept applications for registration of public associations, change of data, liquidation of associations, etc. The Ministry provides public access to information on civic organisations established and operating in Ukraine through the relevant registers and databases.
Definition The Law of Ukraine "On State Registration of Legal Entities, Individual Entrepreneurs and Public Organisations" defines a public association as a voluntary association of individuals and/or legal entities of private law for the purpose of exercising and protecting rights and freedoms, satisfying public, in particular economic, social, cultural, environmental and other interests. According to their legal form, public associations are divided into public organisations and public unions. The main difference is that public organisations can be founded by natural persons, while public unions can be founded by legal entities.
Regulation of the establishment and operation of public associations Interference by state authorities and officials in the activities of public associations is unacceptable, except in cases provided for by law. The state ensures the observance of the rights and legitimate interests of public associations, supports their activities, and legislatively regulates the provision of tax and other benefits and advantages to them. Public associations have the right to form and operate freely, and they may freely cooperate with both Ukrainian and foreign NGOs, institutions, enterprises, etc. In Ukraine, the establishment and operation of public associations aimed at eliminating Ukraine's independence, changing the constitutional order by force, violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state, or undermining its security is prohibited. The law also prohibits encroachment on human rights and freedoms, public health and violation of equality on any grounds. In addition, the law prohibits the justification or denial of the
armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, any propaganda of totalitarian regimes and their symbols, including the Russian Nazi totalitarian regime and the symbols of the
Russian military invasion. NGO must submit an application for registration to the territorial body of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine within 60 days of the constituent assembly. The application must be accompanied by a package of documents, including the decision of the founders to establish a legal entity, a register of persons who participated in the constituent assembly, the constituent document of the legal entity and information on the governing bodies of the public formation. An applicant may submit an application in person or through a legal representative, by sending documents by mail. State registration usually takes three business days, after which the relevant entry on the establishment of a public association is made in the
Unified State Register of Legal Entities, Individuals - Entrepreneurs and Public Formations. a public association may carry out activities with or without the status of a legal entity. A public association with the status of a legal entity is a non-entrepreneurial company whose main purpose is not to make a profit.
Liquidation of an association The decision to terminate a public association is made by the assembly and is subject to state registration. For this purpose, the relevant application shall be submitted to a territorial body of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine. If there are no grounds for refusal, a corresponding entry is made in the Unified State Register.
Separate subdivision of a foreign NGO Foreign non-governmental and charitable organisations may have a separate subdivision in Ukraine. In order to accredit a separate subdivision, an application and a package of documents shall be submitted to the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine. A separate subdivision of a foreign NGO is accredited in Ukraine without being granted the status of a legal entity.
State registers There are three state registers in Ukraine that contain information about public associations. The Unified State Register of Legal Entities, Individuals-Entrepreneurs and Public Formations (USR) is a public register of legal entities in Ukraine that performs the role of state control and protection of the rights of legal entities, public formations and entrepreneurs of Ukraine, as well as protection of the rights of third parties in legal relations with them. The register is managed by the Registration Department of the Ministry of Justice. The USR contains comprehensive information on entities registered in Ukraine, including legal entities, individual entrepreneurs and public associations. The information can be accessed free of charge through the official website of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine. The Unified Register of Public Formations and the Register of Public Associations are specialised electronic databases containing information on the registration and legalisation of these types of public formations. The registers are maintained by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine and access to the information is open to the public. ==See also==