12:17 03.11.2015

Shokin trying to make Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office maximally dependent on state - TI Ukraine

3 min read
Shokin trying to make Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office maximally dependent on state - TI Ukraine

Civic organization Transparency International Ukraine (TI Ukraine) has said that the Ukrainian Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin is personally responsible for the breakdown in the fight against corruption in Ukraine, and has also been trying to make the newly created Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office as dependent on the state as possible.

"The board of management of Transparency International Ukraine notes the number of senior state leadership figures trying, with the help of Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin, to get personal control over the key anti-corruption bodies to make them work for their own interests. By doing this, officials deprive Ukraine of a future without corruption, and the citizens – of the possibility to travel around Europe without visas," the organization said in a press release published on Monday.

Transparency International Ukraine also said that Shokin has delegated Yuriy Sevruk, Yuriy Hryschenko, Roman Balyta, and Mykola Sadovy to the Committee of Prosecutor’s Office Formation. All of them held senior positions in the prosecutor’s office during the rule of former President Viktor Yanukovych.

"Doubts as to the ability of these persons to elect a truly independent leadership of Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office were publicly expressed by the ambassador of EU in Ukraine, the Parliamentary Anti-Corruption Committee, the Anti-Corruption Community, and the media," TI Ukraine said.

"It's important to remember that the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office is a key element required for the launch of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, specially created for the investigation of corruption by the senior officials of Ukraine. Practically speaking, the Bureau will not work without it, and in the case of the breakdown of the launch of a really independent anti-corruption bodies by the end of this year, the European Union will surely deny refuse to grand a non-visa regime to Ukraine. This is explicitly stated in the Action Plan on Visa Liberalization with the EU," TI Ukraine said.

According to the press release, for this reason the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine has promulgated the demands of its international partners on the re-election of the membership of the Committee of Prosecutor’s Office Formation. However, not only did Shokin refuse to listen, but he actually initiated a review of the legality of the actions of the Foreign Ministry.

TI Ukraine said it is Shokin, as well as senior people in the political leadership of the country, who had knowledge of the campaign to discredit the representatives of the reform minded wing of the Prosecutor General’s Office.

"A number of ordered publications and pseudo-investigations have already appeared which prove their connections with corruption clans and the Russian establishment. Transparency International Ukraine and the members of its board, associated with the famous law firm Arzinger, are also reported to figure in these publications. The law firm Arzinger has publicly rejected the accusations against it," TI Ukraine said.

TI Ukraine added that it is ready to give public explanations on its activity and work procedures.

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