Candidate for the position of auditor of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine Nigel Brown supports the initiative to grant powers of authority to NABU to conduct wire-tapping operations under well-crafted legislation.
There are many serious agencies, which enforce the law and use a wide variety of capabilities, including wire-tapping telephones, Brown said in an interview on Wednesday with the Kyiv-based Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
According to Brown, eavesdropping is a very invasive means [for intelligence gathering]. It provides access to the private life of an individual, who is unable to defend against it. He added there should be a balance of interests in order to control the process.
He said collection of evidence in many countries includes wire-tapping only with respect to a certain individual, but not members of his family.
What we're talking about here is a wide circle of people and it is very important to understand when it is warranted to use wire-tapping, he said, adding that the practice could help NABU in its work.
Brown said he received an invitation to come to Ukraine after he expressed a desire to assist the country.
As soon as I agreed, I was deluged by all kinds of accusations concerning my professional transgressions, lack of qualifications and so forth, Brown said. These charges have come from all sides, in parliament, society and media and I'm extremely shocked that this is exactly what is all happening, he said.
