Arseniy Yatsenyuk: Government offers to intensify significantly criminal liability of corrupt officials

The Ukrainian Government submits to the Parliament amendments to the criminal legislation assigned to substantially intensify the liability for corruption actions. This was announced by Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk on Friday, March 27, at an enlarged meeting of the Collegium of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine dedicated to considering measures to counter corruption.

"Having analyzed recent developments, including the decisions of courts, when the courts release corrupt persons on bail, the Government submits to the Parliament the amendments to the criminal procedure law and the criminal law with an aim to considerably ramp up the liability of corrupt officials. Including to avoid the situation when they are released on a low bail and then sought for far and wide," stressed Arseniy Yatsenyuk.

He stressed that leadership of the Ministry of Interior has embarked on “serious steps to reveal and draw to account the officials of senior government authorities”.

According to Arseniy Yatsenyuk, corruption in the country exists at the middle and low levels : "At the present stage, the Ministry of Internal Affairs should become the foundation for the fight against corruption offences".

He reminded that the Government, the President and the Parliament had adopted a number of decisions “regarding new laws to ensure a true anti-corruption struggle and establish both a National Anti-Corruption Commission and a National Anti-Corruption Bureau”.

The Prime Minister expressed belief the Head of state would make a decision on the appointment of the leadership of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau in the near future: "The Government has already allotted funds for the office to be set up quickly, effectively and start operating."