the independence of anti -corruption bodies removed

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky promulgated on Tuesday a controversial law that suppresses the. Consequently, independence of anti -corruption agencies. In addition, This decision caused some demonstrations and the concern of the kyiv allies.

Several hundred demonstrators went down to the streets of the Ukrainian capital. Moreover, according to an AFP reporter on the spot, to express their anger. For example, ‘The bill was in a hurry. Consequently, ‘ criticized Anastasia among them, a 26 -year -old video game designer who denounces a ‘targeted action’.

The initiative was described as a serious decline ‘by the EU, which said it was deeply concerned’.

‘Revenue with the signing of the Ukrainian president,’ said the Ukrainian parliament site in the evening. Similarly, The message briefly disappeared after its publication, before reappearing. For example, A senior Ukrainian official confirmed to AFP that President Zelensky had signed the independence anti -corruption bodies removed bill.

The adoption of the law by the Ukrainian deputies. Consequently, in the aftermath of the disputed arrest of an official working in one of these structures, aroused criticism of activists and NGOs in Ukraine who are concerned about a democratic decline in the country, in the midst of war against Russia since the invasion launched by Moscow in February 2022.

‘A serious decline’

The European Commission. by the voice of the commissioner responsible for the enlargement of the European Union, Marta Kos, said he was deeply concerned ‘by Tuesday’s vote, believing that it was a serious decline’ of Ukraine in matters of the fight against corruption. Respect for ‘the rule of law remains at the heart of the membership negotiations’ from Ukraine to the EU. she added.

Corruption has been an endemic evil in Ukraine for many years. but the country had made progress by creating, in particular, in independence anti -corruption bodies removed 2014 and 2015 respectively, an investigation body, NABU, and a dedicated prosecutor’s office, SAP, specialized in these cases.

Tuesday. Parliament voted at 263 votes for, 13 against and 13 abstentions, to subordinate the activities of these two structures to the Attorney General, itself subject to the President. This measure in fact removes their independence.

Bodies ‘essential’ according to the EU

‘Today. with the votes of 263 deputies, the anti -corruption infrastructure was destroyed,’ regretted the director of the Nabu, Semion Kryvonos, warning that the law will allow that I amouchable ‘in Ukraine.

The text ‘effectively destroys the independence of these two institutions vis-à-vis any political influence. pressure on our surveys,’ abounded in the same direction the head of the SAP, Oleksandre Klymenko.

According to the Roman deputy Lozinsky. this text grants the Attorney General the power to manage the SAP, to give ‘compulsory written instructions’ to the NABU and to independence anti -corruption bodies removed have access to the details of any case and to delegate them to the prosecutor of his choice or to other agencies.

A few hours before the vote. an EU spokesperson Guillaume Mercier stressed that these two bodies were ‘essential to the reform program’ that Ukraine undertook to lead to adhere to the European Union.

Since kyiv, after the vote, a European diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, described this decision as a regrettable ‘. ‘Is it a backhand? Yes. Is this a point of no return? No ‘, then nuanced this official, speaking to a small group of journalists, including AFP.

Anti-corruption manager arrested

On Monday. Ukrainian Security Services (SBU) announced the arrest of a Nabu official suspected of spying for the benefit of Moscow. They searched the premises of the organization, which rejects these accusations.

This arrest was notably denounced by the Ukrainian branch of the NGO Anticorruption independence anti -corruption bodies removed Transparency International. according to which these searches are illegal and ‘aims to obtain information and influence the surveys carried out on senior officials’.

According to Ukrainian media. these measures are involved while the Nabu and the SAP were preparing to charge the former Minister of the National Unit Oleksiï Chernychov and while the two bodies were investigating the former Minister of Justice Olga Stefanichina.

/ATS