Ukraine moves against independent anti-corruption bodies
Ukraine moves against independent anti-corruption bodies
www.ft.com
Client Challenge
Lawmakers voted on Tuesday in favour of legislation that would, in effect, eliminate the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and its partner organisation the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (Sapo), according to four lawmakers and officials familiar who spoke with the Financial Times during the vote.
The move to bring Nabu under executive control is the latest in a series of manoeuvres against pro-reform activists and anti-corruption campaigners that have prompted warnings of creeping authoritarianism in the president’s wartime administration, raising concerns among Ukraine’s western allies.
I don't know how to evaluate this info, tbh. The SBU raided the NABU, becasue allegedly there were foreign (Russian) agents involved.
Also, Ukriane has been actively cleaning the house, to curb corruption. This was seen as a necessary step by the EU for it's membership. Allegations of Zelensky being authoritarian and a centralist, have existed ever since Russian disinformation campaigns and the Russian invasion.
Now, the FT and also The Guardian claim that observers see this move as a concerning development .
I would think that credible evidence of foreign agent activity can be prosecuted without infringing on the independence of the institution.
Of course it is possible that an institution is beyond reproach, but i would find that unlikely for institutions just a decade old and probably started with anti-russian loyalists as the corruption to clear out back then was pro Russia focused corruption.
So i think of this to be concerning as they probably uncovered some actual corruption of Zelensky or people close to Zelensky.
Well for sure yes. But afaik, it's even worse then infringing their independece. For they apprehended 15 (?) Nabu officials and today the Parliament passed a bill, with a great majority, to revoke/cancel the agency's status.
So it's like they abolished the whole thing. Unless I'm missing something, it's very concerning.