The Prague Post - Zelensky signs bill ensuring anti-graft agencies' 'independence'

EUR -
AED 4.191103
AFN 79.873899
ALL 96.247676
AMD 437.958105
ANG 2.042138
AOA 1046.344131
ARS 1564.93103
AUD 1.775969
AWG 2.056744
AZN 1.942103
BAM 1.949966
BBD 2.30289
BDT 139.431604
BGN 1.95531
BHD 0.430142
BIF 3357.542633
BMD 1.141051
BND 1.480059
BOB 7.88135
BRL 6.389547
BSD 1.140677
BTN 99.892251
BWP 15.575263
BYN 3.7326
BYR 22364.600033
BZD 2.291025
CAD 1.582849
CDF 3297.637303
CHF 0.931856
CLF 0.028312
CLP 1110.675836
CNY 8.216081
CNH 8.238896
COP 4777.249725
CRC 576.370472
CUC 1.141051
CUP 30.237852
CVE 109.483227
CZK 24.553475
DJF 202.787594
DKK 7.462417
DOP 69.603938
DZD 149.410537
EGP 55.487257
ERN 17.115765
ETB 157.6955
FJD 2.59572
FKP 0.863051
GBP 0.866686
GEL 3.081366
GGP 0.863051
GHS 11.98093
GIP 0.863051
GMD 82.723626
GNF 9898.617782
GTQ 8.759715
GYD 238.623956
HKD 8.957211
HNL 30.066437
HRK 7.535383
HTG 149.670879
HUF 399.795779
IDR 18848.337203
ILS 3.89775
IMP 0.863051
INR 99.789191
IQD 1494.776839
IRR 48052.528346
ISK 142.220529
JEP 0.863051
JMD 182.503956
JOD 0.809058
JPY 171.773251
KES 147.426794
KGS 99.784701
KHR 4581.319754
KMF 492.363773
KPW 1026.923417
KRW 1603.952506
KWD 0.34931
KYD 0.950448
KZT 615.98161
LAK 24623.880713
LBP 102181.119533
LKR 344.675724
LRD 229.351536
LSL 20.550364
LTL 3.369227
LVL 0.690211
LYD 6.178772
MAD 10.388093
MDL 19.640066
MGA 5054.856291
MKD 61.524199
MMK 2394.461072
MNT 4098.011374
MOP 9.222326
MRU 45.43626
MUR 53.435556
MVR 17.569001
MWK 1981.43317
MXN 21.610503
MYR 4.883407
MZN 72.981949
NAD 20.550497
NGN 1747.313947
NIO 41.933831
NOK 11.80698
NPR 159.827402
NZD 1.944415
OMR 0.438733
PAB 1.140577
PEN 4.072385
PGK 4.712826
PHP 66.486793
PKR 323.203241
PLN 4.281128
PYG 8542.366725
QAR 4.154282
RON 5.076508
RSD 117.15202
RUB 91.511495
RWF 1643.113472
SAR 4.28041
SBD 9.407011
SCR 16.75563
SDG 685.205054
SEK 11.193545
SGD 1.481889
SHP 0.896687
SLE 26.243733
SLL 23927.273911
SOS 652.111787
SRD 42.008365
STD 23617.452385
STN 25.017544
SVC 9.980053
SYP 14835.935748
SZL 20.55061
THB 37.464134
TJS 10.755526
TMT 4.005089
TND 3.286413
TOP 2.672451
TRY 46.40594
TTD 7.743763
TWD 34.172534
TZS 2926.7957
UAH 47.577932
UGX 4088.730852
USD 1.141051
UYU 45.743138
UZS 14382.948202
VES 141.17263
VND 29909.229391
VUV 137.084322
WST 3.162812
XAF 653.994544
XAG 0.031269
XAU 0.000346
XCD 3.083748
XCG 2.05565
XDR 0.791216
XOF 646.402007
XPF 119.331742
YER 274.594126
ZAR 20.869446
ZMK 10270.806071
ZMW 26.204368
ZWL 367.417964
  • SCU

    0.0000

    12.72

    0%

  • RBGPF

    0.5200

    74.94

    +0.69%

  • CMSC

    0.2500

    22.85

    +1.09%

  • NGG

    0.2000

    70.39

    +0.28%

  • BCC

    -1.0800

    83.81

    -1.29%

  • SCS

    0.0000

    10.33

    0%

  • RIO

    0.2800

    59.77

    +0.47%

  • JRI

    0.0200

    13.13

    +0.15%

  • RYCEF

    1.0800

    14.18

    +7.62%

  • RELX

    0.1100

    51.89

    +0.21%

  • CMSD

    0.2100

    23.27

    +0.9%

  • GSK

    -1.8200

    37.15

    -4.9%

  • BCE

    -0.2000

    23.33

    -0.86%

  • VOD

    -0.2500

    10.81

    -2.31%

  • BTI

    0.5200

    53.68

    +0.97%

  • BP

    -0.1000

    32.15

    -0.31%

  • AZN

    -3.5000

    73.09

    -4.79%

Zelensky signs bill ensuring anti-graft agencies' 'independence'
Zelensky signs bill ensuring anti-graft agencies' 'independence' / Photo: Tetiana DZHAFAROVA - AFP

Zelensky signs bill ensuring anti-graft agencies' 'independence'

President Volodymyr Zelensky signed new legislation on Thursday restoring the "independence" of Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies, reversing changes that had sparked large-scale protests and criticism from the European Union.

Text size:

He inked the bill shortly after lawmakers gave their backing for the changes, which was also approved in advance by the anti-corruption bodies.

Kyiv's European allies supported the new legislation after worrying the previous change to the law would undermine anti-corruption reforms key to Ukraine's bid to join the EU.

"The law guarantees the absence of any external influence or interference," the Ukrainian leader wrote on social media, announcing he had approved the bill.

"It is very important that the state listens to public opinion. It hears its citizens. Ukraine is a democracy," he added, in an apparent message to Ukrainians who had demanded the changes.

Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said after the vote in parliament that the result was "a clear response to the expectations of society and our European partners."

Dozens of demonstrators -- holding signs that read "restore independence" or European Union flags -- gathered ahead of the vote to urge lawmakers to back the new bill.

One of the demonstrators, Anastasiia, told AFP it was important that anti-corruption agencies were not in the "pocket" of government officials.

"While the military is defending our country from the damned Russians, we here in the rear are communicating with our authorities so that the country they are fighting for is worthy," she said, identifying herself with her first name only.

European Commission spokesman Guillaume Mercier said the bill "restored key safeguards" for anti-graft agencies but cautioned "this is not the end of the process."

"Ukraine accession will require continuous efforts to guarantee a strong capacity to combat corruption and to respect rule of law, we expect Ukraine to deliver on those commitments swiftly," he said.

The earlier law had put the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) under the direct authority of the prosecutor general, who is appointed by the president.

Critics took to the streets in protracted protests fearing the the move could facilitate presidential interference in corruption probes.

C.Zeman--TPP