The Supreme Rada, the Parliament of Ukraine, has approved this Thursday a law that cancels the legal text that so the measure restores the independence of these two government agencies after the strong criticisms expressed by European partners and different organizations.
The vote has come forward with 331 votes in favor – of a total of 450 deputies – after the rectification presented by the country’s own president, who decided to reverse after ratifying a legal text that limited the capabilities of these two agencies, according to information from the Ukrainian news agency UNN.
The initial measure adopted by Zelenski reached as suspicions on the functioning of these two organisms, especially in terms of a possible and to the delay in some procedures. With this rule – now reverted – the Prosecutor’s Office could intervene in the investigations, archiving or redirecting the cases.
But Zelenski, who affirmed that said law would guarantee “the real strengthening of public order in Ukraine, the independence of anti -corruption agencies and reliable protection against any Russian influence or interference,” has yielded to international pressure and has carried out this new law to annul the regulations.
With this last legislation, Zelenski emphasizes that this “strengthening of the system” that was sought at first, without impeding the independence of the agencies is guaranteed.
Brussels notice
The European Commission has pointed out that the new Ukraine law on the anti -corruption struggle approved by the Supreme Rada addresses doubts about the independence of Ukrainian anti -corruption agencies, amending the approved changes a week ago that generated the criticisms of Brussels before the steps back in this field, key to adhesion to the EU.
“The Rada has restored the fundamental guarantees that ensure the independence of anti -corruption agencies. In our opinion, the new law addresses the fundamental challenges of the independence of the National Anti -Corruption Office of Ukraine (NABU) and the Special Prosecutor’s Office Anti -Corruption (SAPO),” said the community spokesperson for expansion, Guillaume Mercier, at a press conference from Brussels.
Mercier has insisted in any case that Brussels will verify the small print of the final text and stressed that this discrepancy with kyiv resolved a few days later “is not the end of the process.”
“The adhesion of Ukraine will require continuous efforts to guarantee a solid capacity to fight corruption and respect for the rule of law. We hope that Ukraine quickly fulfills those commitments and adopts decisive measures on the rule of law,” he said.
