“We need to move from emotional statements to constructive action regarding the work of law enforcement agencies. In this context, the meeting of the President with the leadership of NABU, SAP, SSU, MIA, SBU, NACP, and the Prosecutor General was very important. There is an agreement that a plan of specific measures will be developed, which will address all existing concerns and give more real strength to the law enforcement and anti-corruption system”, - said Davyd Arakhamia, head of the ‘Servant of the People’ faction in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, after the meeting.
“We see there is dissatisfaction, and we will respond to it. As soon as the overall action plan is presented, we in the Verkhovna Rada are ready to politically support it and provide the necessary resources, ensure the necessary decisions”, - he noted.
As for draft law No. 12414, Arakhamia wanted to state several important positions:
- There is not and never was a single word in this document about the liquidation of NABU, SAP, or NACP. Claims about dismantling the anti-corruption infrastructure are not true.
- The law does not affect the infrastructure of NABU and SAP, this wasn’t even planned, NABU continues to work, SAP continues to work.
- There has never been any talk of an attack on the anti-corruption infrastructure throughout all convocations of this parliament.
We want to remind that one of the first decisions made by this Verkhovna Rada, adopted in “turbo mode”, was precisely the institutional strengthening of NABU, SAP, NACP, and the High Anti-Corruption Court.
Arakhamia emphasized that it was the team of the ‘Servant of the People’ faction who:
- Granted NABU the authority to independently wiretap suspects (draft law No. 1009);
- Strengthened the independence of NACP, introduced a selection procedure for the head of NACP with the participation of international organization representatives (draft law No. 1029);
- Unblocked the work of the High Anti-Corruption Court, removed all artificial barriers that hindered the consideration of cases against top-level corrupt officials (draft law No. 1025).
“And in general, during this convocation, our team has pursued a consistent policy of strengthening anti-corruption institutions. In particular, this includes lifting parliamentary immunity (draft law No. 7203), reintroducing punishment for illegal enrichment of officials and the introduction of property confiscation from corrupt officials (draft law No. 1031), and the return of criminal liability for lying in declarations (draft law No. 4651). We are ready to continue to politically support everything necessary for the law enforcement system, and as soon as changes are presented – we will consider them”, - assured Arakhamia.