The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, promulgated on Tuesday, July 22, a controversial law that eliminates the independence of anti -corruption agencies, an initiative qualified as “serious decline” by the EU, which said it was “deeply worried.”
“Back with the signature of the Ukrainian President,” said the Ukrainian Parliament site at night. The message disappeared briefly after publication, before reappearing.
A senior Ukrainian official confirmed that President Zelensky had signed the bill.
A “serious decline” of Ukraine
The adoption of the law by the Ukrainian deputies, after the arrest in dispute of an official who works in one of these structures, the criticisms excited to the activists and the NGOs in Ukraine who are concerned about a democratic decrease in the country, in the middle of the war against Russia since the invasion launched by Moscow in February 2022.
The European Commission, by the voice of the commissioner responsible for expanding the European Union, Marta Kos, said it was “deeply concerned” about Tuesday’s vote, believing that it was a “serious decrease” of Ukraine in matters of the fight against corruption.
Respect for “the rule of law remains in the heart of membership negotiations” from Ukraine to the EU, he added.
Two structures concerned about this vote
Corruption has been an endemic evil in Ukraine for many years, but the country had progressed by creating, in particular, in 2014 and 2015, respectively, an investigation agency, NABU and a dedicated prosecutor’s office, SAP, specialized in these cases.
On Tuesday, Parliament voted in 263 votes for 13 against and 13 abstentions, to subordinate the activities of these two structures for the Attorney General, subject to the President. A measure that in fact eliminates its independence.
Source: BFM TV
