Latest news with #VladimirZelensky
Russia Today
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Zelensky ends independence of anti-graft bodies
The Ukrainian Parliament has voted to end the independence of the country's anti-corruption agencies. The ongoing crackdown has triggered international scrutiny and protests across the country. The Verkhovna Rada on Tuesday approved legislation placing the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) under executive oversight. Lawmakers opposing the bill reportedly shouted 'shame!' as the results were read out. Later in the day, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky signed the bill into law. The vote came just a day after the country's domestic security service raided the NABU's headquarters, arresting two investigators. The raids elicited concern from G7 ambassadors, who said they were monitoring the situation. Anti-corruption activists called the timing deliberate. 'This is about silencing NABU and SAPO as they close in on Zelensky's inner circle,' the NGO Anti-Corruption Action Center stated. The legislation was introduced by lawmakers from Zelensky's ruling party and was initially aimed at changing Ukraine's criminal code under martial law before last-minute amendments targeting anti-corruption bodies were added. MP Anastasia Radina warned the changes would 'effectively dismantle' anti-graft infrastructure, turning the NABU and SAPO into 'purely decorative institutions … completely dependent on the will of the prosecutor-general.' The agencies were created in 2015 as part of a Western-backed push to ensure prosecutorial independence – a key condition for Ukraine's EU bid and international lending. The NABU received significant technical and equipment support from the US, UK, and EU. European Commissioner Marta Kos condemned the 'dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU's independence as a serious step back' in the country's reform trajectory, saying the rule of law remains central to Ukraine's EU bid. European Commission spokesman Guillaume Mercier called the agencies 'crucial' for fighting corruption and maintaining public trust. He stressed that Ukraine's accession would require 'strong institutional resilience,' and noted that EU aid remains tied to reforms. Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko dismissed the backlash, calling corruption concerns 'overemphasized,' and signaled Kiev would seek more IMF support. Brussels has long viewed corruption as a key obstacle to Kiev's EU ambitions. Ukraine's reputation for endemic graft has deepened since the conflict with Russia escalated in 2022. The defense sector has been hit by procurement scandals, while donors have pushed for greater transparency.
Russia Today
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Zelensky defends clampdown on anti-corruption agencies
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has defended a controversial reform targeting the country's anti-corruption agencies, which has sparked street protests and raised concerns among EU officials. On Tuesday, Zelensky signed a bill into law granting the Prosecutor General's Office authority to intervene in the activities of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). The move followed a raid by security officials on NABU offices and the arrest of a senior employee accused of spying for Russia. Zelensky rejected accusations of creeping authoritarianism, which have been voiced by opposition politicians, including frequent critic and Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko. 'The anti-corruption infrastructure will work – just without Russian influence. It needs to be cleared of that. And there should be more justice,' Zelensky said in his daily video address early Wednesday. He added that it was 'not normal' for some officials to live abroad 'without legal consequences,' and criticized the failure to investigate corruption cases 'worth billions' over the years. 'There is no explanation for how the Russians are still able to obtain the information they need,' he said. Vasily Malyuk, head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), whose agents conducted the searches involving NABU personnel, denied that the measures amounted to dismantling the anti-corruption system. He insisted that the agencies 'continue to function effectively.' NABU and SAPO were established following the US-backed 2014 coup in Kiev and promoted as key components of reforms intended to align Ukraine with Western governance standards and international financial institutions. However, some Western officials, including US Vice President J.D. Vance, have argued that the decade of transformation has failed to eliminate entrenched corruption. Darya Kalenyuk, executive director of the Kiev-based NGO Anti-Corruption Action Center, linked the government's clampdown to recent investigations involving members of Zelensky's team, including former Deputy Prime Minister Aleksey Chernyshov and media executive Timur Mindich. 'NABU has been closing in on members of Zelensky's inner circle and friends,' Kalenyuk said, as cited by the US state-funded outlet Current Time. She adding that the reform may be aimed at concealing the embezzlement of military funds.
Russia Today
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Zelensky's ‘authoritarian' move against anti-graft agencies sparks protests (VIDEOS)
Hundreds have protested in Kiev and other cities against a controversial decision to curtail the independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies. On Tuesday, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky signed a bill into law placing the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) under executive oversight. The move followed security raids on NABU's offices and the arrest of a senior employee accused of spying for Russia. Prosecutors have also launched an investigation into SAPO over the alleged mishandling of classified information. Opposition lawmakers warned that the new law will damage Ukraine's ties with the European Union, roll back efforts to combat corruption, and play into Moscow's hands. Protesters gathered in Kiev, Lviv, Dnepr, and Odessa, chanting 'Veto the law' and holding signs that read 'Shame' and 'Treason.'«Вето на закон», – скандують на площі Івана Франка у Києві. Люди вийшли на акцію після того, як Рада проголосувала за ліквідацію незалежності НАБУ та САП. Зібрав акцію ветеран батальйону «Вовків Да Вінчі» Дмитро Козятинський ❗️"Вимагаємо вето!" Львів'яни вийшли на захист незалежності НАБУ і САП. Some demonstrators shouted 'I'm not a loser,' referencing a phrase Zelensky used during a viral 2019 confrontation with militia members. One protester held a sign reading, 'The end of NABU and SAP marks the start of an age of corruption.' В Києві розпочалася акція протесту проти ухвалення законопроєкту №12414, який фактично ліквідує НАБУ та САП. Аналогічні акції були анонсовані в Дніпрі та Львові. 'The new legislation does not bring Ukraine closer to the European Union, democracy, or the rule of law,' Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko, a frequent critic of Zelensky, wrote on Telegram. 'It seems the authors have become convinced of their own impunity and are rapidly pulling Ukraine toward authoritarianism,' he added. The government has defended the reform, arguing it is necessary to preserve the agencies' integrity amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Russia Today
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukraine ends independence of anti-graft bodies
The Ukrainian Parliament has voted to end the independence of the country's anti-corruption agencies. The ongoing crackdown has triggered international scrutiny and protests across the country. The Verkhovna Rada on Tuesday approved legislation placing the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) under executive oversight. Lawmakers opposing the bill reportedly shouted 'shame!' as the results were read out. Later in the day, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky reportedly signed the bill into law. The vote came just a day after the country's domestic security service raided the NABU's headquarters, arresting two investigators. The raids elicited concern from G7 ambassadors, who said they were monitoring the situation. Anti-corruption activists called the timing deliberate. 'This is about silencing NABU and SAPO as they close in on Zelensky's inner circle,' the NGO Anti-Corruption Action Center stated. The legislation was introduced by lawmakers from Zelensky's ruling party and was initially aimed at changing Ukraine's criminal code under martial law before last-minute amendments targeting anti-corruption bodies were added. MP Anastasia Radina warned the changes would 'effectively dismantle' anti-graft infrastructure, turning the NABU and SAPO into 'purely decorative institutions … completely dependent on the will of the prosecutor-general.' The agencies were created in 2015 as part of a Western-backed push to ensure prosecutorial independence – a key condition for Ukraine's EU bid and international lending. The NABU received significant technical and equipment support from the US, UK, and EU. European Commissioner Marta Kos condemned the 'dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU's independence as a serious step back' in the country's reform trajectory, saying the rule of law remains central to Ukraine's EU bid. European Commission spokesman Guillaume Mercier called the agencies 'crucial' for fighting corruption and maintaining public trust. He stressed that Ukraine's accession would require 'strong institutional resilience,' and noted that EU aid remains tied to reforms. Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko dismissed the backlash, calling corruption concerns 'overemphasized,' and signaled Kiev would seek more IMF support. Brussels has long viewed corruption as a key obstacle to Kiev's EU ambitions. Ukraine's reputation for endemic graft has deepened since the conflict with Russia escalated in 2022. The defense sector has been hit by procurement scandals, while donors have pushed for greater transparency.
Russia Today
a day ago
- Business
- Russia Today
Zelensky complains Western backers too slow to send money
Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky has complained that his country has yet to see any benefits from NATO's plan to ramp up military spending. At a recent summit in The Hague, most members of the US-led bloc committed to raising security-related expenditure to 5% of GDP. Kiev seeks to benefit from the surge, even as reluctance to commit to long-term funding of Ukraine is dwindling in the West. 'The EU has opened access to €150 billion. Member states can assume obligations to draw these funds and then transfer them to Ukraine,' Zelensky told Ukrainian ambassadors on Monday, according to remarks released by his office. 'Ten countries have already expressed readiness to take this money, but we have not yet seen the result – that they have actually taken it and transferred it to us.' Zelensky appeared to be referring to the EU's Security Action for Europe (SAFE), a €150 billion ($175 billion) borrowing instrument introduced in May to support the European Commission's efforts for rapid militarization across the bloc. SAFE offers member states and select partner countries access to low-interest loans for national defense efforts or joint weapons procurement. The program is part of a broader EU strategy to borrow €800 billion for military readiness investment. It is not designed to provide direct financial aid. EU officials say the bloc is preparing for the possibility of Russian aggression – a claim Moscow has rejected as fearmongering based on false assumptions. This month, the US offered to sell weapons to Ukraine, with other NATO nations covering the costs. While the proposal was hailed by Brussels, some major EU economies, including France and Italy, have reportedly opted out citing financial limitations or political reasons. Brussels' handling of the Ukraine conflict has exposed growing divisions within the EU. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a longtime critic of the pro-Kiev approach, denounced the European Commission's draft seven-year budget, saying it appears primarily tailored to Ukraine's needs. 'This budget would destroy the European Union,' Orban said last week, predicting that the Commission will likely have to withdraw or significantly revise the proposal within a year.
