The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has adopted scandalous amendments to the Criminal Code, which actually exempt corrupt officials who have entered into an agreement with the investigation from the confiscation of property. This caused a flurry of criticism from public figures, anti-corruption activists and experts.
What has changed?
Part 2 was removed from Article 77 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which allowed the confiscation of property for corruption crimes even in the case of exemption from punishment under the terms of the agreement with the investigation. That is, now corrupt officials can avoid not only prison, but also the loss of illegally acquired assets.
The draft law, signed by the President, provides for amendments not only to the Criminal Code, but also to other legislative acts, including the deprivation of state awards for propaganda of the aggressor state or other anti-Ukrainian actions. However, it is precisely this point regarding confiscation that has become the most controversial.
Vitaliy Shabunin, head of the Anti-Corruption Center, said that the adopted changes are "treason" and protection of the interests of the corrupt. He expressed doubt that the President is the real author of the draft law, and noted that his former partner, Deputy Anastasia Radina, lobbied for these changes.
Who is behind the law?
Anastasia Radina, former head of advocacy programs of the Anti-Corruption Center, was among those who voted for this bill. Her past as an active anti-corruption activist is ironic in the context of the current vote. Radina, who previously worked on the creation of the High Anti-Corruption Court, has now become the subject of accusations of aiding and abetting corrupt officials.
Why is this important?
Experts see these changes as an attempt to protect the illegally acquired property of corrupt people from being confiscated in favor of the state. This may undermine the trust in Ukraine on the part of international partners who supported the fight against corruption and demanded tougher measures against criminals.
Shabunin even called it "abandoning the Europeans", because such changes contradict the declared fight against corruption, which was supported by donors and Western partners of Ukraine.
