At 1030, a press breakfast will begin at Transparency International Ukraine to discuss anti-corruption priorities of the Verkhovna Rada of the new convocation (DEPO Conference Hall, 50 Antonovycha Street, Library Conference Room). Registration for participation by 1800 on August 27 online: http://bit.ly/pressnidanok.
Additional information by phone or e-mail: (066) 789 5895, karpinska@ti-ukraine.org.
Head of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) Artem Sytnyk and Head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) Nazar Kholodnytsky are expecting the launch of the High Anti-Corruption Court and hope the Verkhovna Rada will adopt a number of bills that are important for the work of anti-corruption authorities.
At a press conference in Kyiv on Friday, Sytnyk emphasized that it is necessary to return criminal liability for illegal enrichment, as well as resolve the situation that developed after the decision of the Constitutional Court on depriving the NABU of the right to file claims under agreements in criminal proceedings.
“There is an option on how to return these powers to the NABU and the SAPO. Therefore, I hope that with the start of work of the new parliament, these bills will be adopted,” Sytnyk said.
The NABU director expressed hope that the anti-corruption court will begin its work on time, on September 5.
“We have developed a sufficiently large baggage of cases, which is now awaiting its decision in courts,” he said.
“I hope that the law on the High Anti-Corruption Court will be amended in terms of eliminating the risks of blocking its work by a very large number of cases,” the NABU director said.
Head of the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative Eka Tkeshelashvili has said she is convinced that without an Anti-Corruption Court the system of fighting corruption in Ukraine cannot be as effective as possible and justify all expectations. She said in an interview with the Interfax-Ukraine news agency that the Anti-Corruption Court is a key link in the fight against corruption and that the need to create it in full accordance with the recommendations of the Venice Commission had been repeatedly stressed by European partners.
Tkeshelashvili noted that the recommendations of the Venice Commission still remain a “stumbling block” in the drafting of a respective bill for second reading.
This is not just any wish on the part of Ukraine’s partners, this is a well-balanced vision of what elements must be included in this law so that the court could be really independent, effective and fulfill its role, she said.
Tkeshelashvili stressed that the fight against corruption was important, including to ensure security in Ukraine.
