PM declares National police to be independent of phone calls and votes in Parliament

"We are moving away from Parliament’s and political parties’ political influence on the national security and law enforcement. A National police is becoming an independent law enforcement agency that is dependent not of phone calls and votes in the Parliament, but only of codes, laws, conscience and responsibility," Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk emphasized at a visiting Government’s session at the National Academy of Internal Affairs, presenting government bills on reform of the Interior Ministry, on Saturday, April 4.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk stressed that after the adoption of the proposed by the Government bills aimed at reforming the Ministry of Internal Affairs' "Minister as a political figure will deal with the definition of policy of the Ministry, while the head of the National police, directors of relevant departments will serve the law, not a political party and political force that appointed either a Minister, or another person."

He stressed that a draft law on amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code developed by the Government provides a tenfold increase in bail from damage caused to the state for certain categories of offenses.

As to the other categories of crimes, Arseniy Yatsenyuk underlined that it was provided "the abolition of such an institution as bail." In particular, this applies Article 191 of the CPC (misappropriation, embezzlement or taking it through abuse of office), and as to civil servants of 1-4 categories.

He called on the Parliament to pass the bill, noting that the Government and Parliament have "a common opinion" on the issue.

"We are taking a big step in real reform of the former Soviet system of militsiya and the transition to a European Ukrainian police - in terms of content, form and meaning," the Prime Minister emphasized. "We ask the MPs to support our joint efforts aimed at reforming the law enforcement system," he said

Arseniy Yatsenyuk addressed those present at the meeting cadets of the National Academy of Internal Affairs: "We are all representing the executive power and Parliament, commit ourselves to the new Ukrainian police. We shall be proud of each of you. You shall be a model of a new Ukraine, which meets European standards, protects its citizen and takes care of every police officer who serves the people of Ukraine."