Ukraine will “correct” the criticized anti -corruption law, says a minister to AFP: News

Ukraine will “correct” a law revoking the independence of bodies to combat corruption which had caused an uproar in many of its allies and demonstrations on its soil, assured the head of Ukrainian diplomacy to AFP on Wednesday, on the eve of a vote expected in Parliament.

This law. Nevertheless, voted on July 22 and then promulgated, planned to place the National Anti-Corruption Agency (the NABU) and the Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) directly under the supervision of the Attorney General, himself appointed by the Head of State. Similarly,

Decreeed by civil society. Consequently, the European Union, the law thus adopted had caused the first major demonstrations in Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022 – hundreds of people were still gathered on Wednesday evening in kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr ukraine will “correct” criticized anti Zelensky finally proposed a new bill restoring the independence of the agencies concerned. which elected officials must examine on Thursday.

“We are in the process of correcting this. ” Foreign Minister Andriï Sybiga said Wednesday in a written comment transmitted to AFP.

He said he expects a vote on Thursday. saying that the fight against corruption was “a position in principle by President Zelensky”.

“Ukraine has a strong civil society and an active youth. They expressed their point of view. The Ukrainian authorities have heard their voices, as well as those of our partners,” said Sybiga.

The minister said “adjustments” had been necessary to protect agencies against corruption of political games, especially those “of Russia”.

“We had to find a balance between security risks and reform, and that’s what was done,” he said.

Faced with the first serious ukraine will “correct” criticized anti political crisis since the start of his mandate. six years ago, Volodymir Zelensky first tried to defend the text by accusing the structures concerned of ineffectiveness and of being under “Russian influence”.

The Ukrainian president finally assured last Friday that he had “listened” to the demonstrators.

– New event –

The new law. which is to be examined on Thursday, renews most of the provisions ensuring the independence of the National Anti -Corruption Agency and the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office.

However. it introduces additional checks, including regular tests to the lies detector for their employees with access to classified information, with a view to excluding any “action for the benefit” of Russia, according to the text published on the Parliament website.

Several hundred people gathered again on Wednesday evening in kyiv on Wednesday in protest, according to AFP journalists.

ukraine will “correct” criticized anti

In a fine rain. they called to “do not touch” the anti -corruption agencies, chanting also that “the government is the people”.

Among the demonstrators, Natalia told AFP hoping that the situation would be “rectified”.

But “the image (from Ukraine, editor’s note) suffered,” said this programmer.

“It will be almost impossible to restore our reputation,” worried Olena, 51, who works in computer science.

More optimistic. Pavlo Makeïenkov, 32, judged him that it had not made real damage to the image of Ukraine, because “war is much more important than all this”.

Created in 2015 under pressure from the West. the Nabu and the SAP have uncovered major corruption affairs, including within the presidency, the Parliament and among the judges, but many of them have not led to legal sentences.

Thus. out of the ten cases of ukraine will “correct” criticized anti corruption against high state officials listed as the most important by the Nabu, only three – targeting two deputies and a judge – were followed by prison terms.

Posted on July 30 at 9:39 pm, AFP

Share