On Friday, 1 April, Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk and Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov participated in the ceremony of awarding certificates of B category to 17 instructors of the Corps of Prompt Immediate Action (CORD) of the National police of Ukraine.

These instructors received training, which was conducted jointly with representatives of certain special forces of the United States.

Among the main tasks of the group B of the police special unit CORD is to implement security arrangements in relation to persons who engage in criminal justice process.

The Head of Government stressed that the establishment of CORD unit would facilitate pursuing a police reform as well as in general, a reform of law enforcement and judicial system of Ukraine: "These Ukrainian police officers will engage in difficult job which is the protection of witnesses who testify against criminals, mafia, against any officials or so-called ‘the powerful’.

Now, said the Head of the Government, a witness might testify during the pre-trial investigation, but in court due to intimidation or pressure might refuse his testimony, as the State is unable to protect him. Arseniy Yatsenyuk emphasized that the CORD unit would take under the protection those people who are willing to testify and speak the truth: "This will enable the country to build a new high-quality justice and to prosecute the most influential criminals in the country."

The reform of the National police, he stressed, is really successful and is widely supported by the citizens of the country: "The new police got to the streets of Ukraine, have different attitude to protection of rights and freedoms of man and citizen, to their duties and serve the Ukrainian people".

Arseniy Yatsenyuk expressed gratitude to the Government of the United States of America and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the U.S.A. in Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt, who was present at the ceremony, for the support to the Ukrainian law-enforcement in the matter of building a fair judicial system and really powerful Ukrainian police.

The Prime Minister visited the barracks in the Training Center of the special force units of the National police, in which the police officers live during the training, and attended a training "Escorting of guarded person".

We shall remind, in October 2015, with the participation of U.S. experts there were conducted training of candidates for the posts of instructors of special force units CORD of group A. Among their main objectives - the release of hostages, rescue of police officers and civilians who are in danger of shelling, participation in anti-terror operations, the security support for police officers at special events. By results of the training the certificates were awarded to 19 officers.

A process of selection of candidates to join CORD units has been launched throughout Ukraine. It is planned to recruit to the Corps of Prompt Immediate Action 3076 police officers.