UPDATE: Zelensky signs law destroying independence of Ukraine's key anti-corruption bodies
kyivindependent.com
President Volodymyr Zelensky approved the law on July 22 despite large-scale protests against the law, which critics say undermines years of pro-democracy reforms.

President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 22 signed into law a bill that effectively destroys the independence of Ukraine’s two key anti-corruption institutions, according to opposition lawmakers and watchdogs.

Earlier in the day, the Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada) approved amendments that grant the prosecutor general new powers over investigations led by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and cases led by the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).

Among other new powers, the prosecutor general could also close NABU’s investigations at the legal defense’s request.

The protests were still underway when Zelensky signed the bill.

  • Archangel1313@lemmy.ca
    25·
    8 days ago

    Among other new powers, the prosecutor general could also close NABU’s investigations at the legal defense’s request.

    That last part seems oddly unnecessary to mention. I would assume the legal defense would always want the investigations against them to “go away”…so is there a specific mechanism in this legislation that would give an official request some kind of unfair advantage?

    From what I’ve read, there is currently serious concerns that SAPO has itself been compromised by Russian influence, due to several investigations that have mysteriously stalled. So, the intent behind this legislation is not to “close” cases…but rather to ensure they continue. Even going as far as reassigning the cases to new investigators, should the originals be suspected of being compromised.

    This is very typical of how Russian influence campaigns work. Just leave an open offer of financial benefit out there, and eventually someone will accept it and begin undermining the whole system from within. And if you put someone in charge of investigating them, just offer that guy even more money to look the other way. Wash, rinse, repeat until everyone is on the payroll…or at least surrounded by those that are.

      • Archangel1313@lemmy.ca
        43·
        8 days ago

        Not, “no”. While this does give them the authority to call off an investigation, it also gives them the authority to reassign cases that get closed for no apparent reason.

        This details a long list of oddly suspicious activity that both anti-corruption agencies have engaged in over the years. And it has gone both ways…sometimes investigating officials relentlessly, even when no evidence of wrongdoing has been found, or just quietly dropping investigations even when there’s plenty of evidence to support prosecution.

        The biggest problem with any of this, is how do you independently investigate an independent investigator without compromising its independence? Where is the oversight, over the oversight agency? If any of those agencies becomes compromised, then any effort to remove that corruption will be seen as a threat to their independence.

          • Archangel1313@lemmy.ca
            15·
            8 days ago

            If this source is so “pro-Ukraine”, why are they so critical of Ruslan Kravchenko, the new Prosecutor General? They repeatedly call him a “Zelenski loyalist”, and use his anti-Russian sentiments to make that point. They’re basically trying to say this makes him a bad choice for the job.

            That seems more like a “pro-Russian” take, rather than “pro-Ukraine”, don’t you think?