The Ukrainian anti-corruption system must function without Russian influence and be completely free from any external interference. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky in a statement published on Telegram and quoted by Ukrinform, BTA reports.
„I spoke with NABU Director Semyon Kryvonos, SAP Prosecutor Oleksandr Klymenko, Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko and Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Malyuk. We discussed all the challenges. The anti-corruption infrastructure will continue to function, but without Russian influence, it must be cleansed of it. And there must be more justice“, Zelensky pointed out.
The president promised that a comprehensive plan to combat corruption would be presented within two weeks. He stressed that both the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) would continue to work.
“It is important that the Prosecutor General is determined to ensure that in Ukraine there is a real inevitability of punishment for lawbreakers. This is essential for our society“, Zelensky added.
He also criticized the lack of progress in numerous criminal proceedings:
“For years, officials who fled Ukraine have been living peacefully abroad in nice countries, without legal consequences. This is not normal. There is no explanation why cases worth billions are “hanging” for years. And even less why the Russians still have access to important information.“
Zelensky stressed that it is crucial for society to see justice in action:
“The important thing is without the Russians. The important thing is that there is an inevitability of punishment and that society actually sees it.“
His statement comes against the backdrop of a sharp public backlash after he signed a law that effectively limits the independence of NABU and SAP, Ukrinform recalls.