The article provides a general analysis of the legal nature of the principle of transparency in the activities of public authorities and identifies the main doctrinal approaches to its definition and standards of compliance with this principle by public authorities.
The author emphasises the importance of its observance given the need to create conditions for accountability in the activities of public authorities. It describes the constitutional and legislative regulation of transparency, openness, and publicity in the activities of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Supreme Council of Ukraine) as the only legislative body in Ukraine that directly affects the legitimacy of decisions made even in times of war. Provides analyses of the main practical elements of transparency of the functioning of the Verkhovna Rada during the martial law regime in Ukraine. Furthermore, the article identifies possible restrictions on the principle of transparency in the activities of the Parliament during martial law, which are permissible in extraordinary circumstances to ensure the safety of parliamentarians on the one hand, and, on the other hand, to continue to adhere to the principle of transparency in their activities.
Attention is drawn to the vulnerability of some approaches to transparency, openness, and publicity, which may lead to violations of human rights and freedoms. This refers to the prohibition to publish any information related to the Verkhovna Rada session before its completion and for some time afterwards. As a result, recommendations are provided to improve the coverage of the Verkhovna Rada.