Javad Parsa; Pool/EPA
O Presidente ucraniano volodymyr zelenskyy.
Responsible for one of two institutions that are no longer independent asks Zelenskyy: “Do not sign this law.”
The Ukrainian deputies approved a law on Tuesday that eliminates the independence of the two institutions responsible for the fight against corruption in the country, following the detention of a former deputy and several employees of one of these organizations.
Parliament authorized, for 263 votes against 13 (and 13 abstentions), the subordination of the activities of the National Anti -Corruption Office (NABU) and the specialized anti -corruption office (SAPO) The Attorney General, who, in turn, is under the tutelage of the Ukrainian President.
Deputy provided secret documents to Russia
The approval of the law followed by a scandal recent that involved an alleged SECRET Document Leave For Russian security services, action attributed to a former deputy, Fedor Khristenko, who has been accused of high betrayal.
Khritenko was accused of trying to influence NABU from foreigners through its connections to some of the office employees, some of which have already been arrested, the prosecutor announced. In the last few hours, searches were also performed at the homes of various family members of Khristenko, where documents related to secret investigations conducted by NABU were found.
The Public Prosecution Service maintains that Khristenko was recruited by the federal security service during the government of former President Viktor Yanukovych and has since spent confidential information to Russia and helped corruption suspects to flee Ukraine.
With the new law, the Attorney General has access to all NABU investigations and can issue new instructions, end cases and personally sign accusations against high employees.
The approved law also removes the functions of the head of the frog, an independent body of the Attorney General who supervises the cases investigated by NABU-especially against high government officials-who are then referred to the court.
“Reinforcing democratic institutions is extremely difficult” in times of war
NABU, Semen Krivonos, has already appealed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, not to sign this law, warning that the measure endangers transparency and anti -corruption commitments to organizations such as the European Union (EU).
“Two independent institutions, NABU and SAPO, are being completely transferred to an independent regime. We oppose categorically (…). We ask you not to sign this law,” said Krivonos.
Ukraine, which is in the process of joining the EU, has been warned by Brussels in recent days that it should continue to implement the necessary reforms to equate the country to what the European Commission calls “European standards.”
The MEPs suggest that Ukraine do more to comply with the rule of law, judicial reforms and adopt more measures against corruption, although recognizing that “Reinforcing democratic institutions” in the country while fighting a “is extremely difficult” war ”.
