The development of a strong and resilient anti-corruption infrastructure has been one of the main achievements of the Ukrainian government, parliament, and the president in recent years.
Ukraine’s Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal said this in an interview with BBC News Ukrainian, according to Ukrinform.
“Over these [past] six years, all reports by the European Commission, GRECO, and the OECD have confirmed significant progress in the fight against corruption. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) was granted full independence, the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) was strengthened, competitive selections were held, a new anti-corruption prosecutor was appointed, the High Anti-Corruption Court began operating, and relevant audits were conducted,” Shmyhal said.
According to the minister, in response to the situation concerning the law, Ukraine, Ukrainian society, and the Ukrainian government once again demonstrated political maturity and responsibility.
“The president reacted immediately. Meetings with the heads of anti-corruption agencies were convened right away. A new draft law was promptly submitted. We hope that parliament will consider it in the near future,” Shmyhal added.
On Thursday, July 31, before a session of the Verkhovna Rada, the Servant of the People party faction will convene to discuss the president’s draft law on ensuring the independence of NABU and SAPO.
The concerned parliamentary committee has recommended that the president’s draft law — “On the Introduction of Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine and Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine to Strengthen the Powers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office” — be adopted both at first reading and in its entirety.
Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk believes that the president’s bill aimed at increasing the effectiveness of NABU and SAPO will be supported by parliament in both readings.
On July 22, the Verkhovna Rada passed a bill reducing the powers of NABU and SAPO. That same day, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed it into law.
Protests against the new law took place in Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine.
On July 24, Zelensky approved the text of a new draft law aimed at ensuring the independence of the anti-corruption infrastructure. The Verkhovna Rada is scheduled to consider it on July 31.
On July 25, activists in Kyiv urged Ukrainians to gather on Wednesday, July 30, and again on the day of the vote, July 31, to show MPs that the public expects a “just decision.”
Photo: Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine
Source: Shmyhal: Building anti-corruption infrastructure was one of our government's key achievements
