G7 ambassadors publish roadmap to restore Ukraine anti-corruption bodies

G7 ambassadors to Ukraine published on Jan. 25 a roadmap
of steps towards reforming the judiciary and strengthening Ukraine’s
anti-corruption institutions in response to the scandalous Oct. 27 Constitutional Court ruling
disrupting them, the eurointegration.com.ua news site reported. It consists of
certain urgent measures that need to be applied “for the immediate removal of
damage inflicted by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine and not allow for a
repeat of this crisis in the future,” according to the roadmap.

These urgent measures consist of (1) restoring the
legal norms for fighting corruption that were recently recognized as
unconstitutional for ensuring a reliable legal foundation, (2) preventing the
inflicting of damage by the Constitutional Court in the future, even if it
becomes a truly independent and accountable body, and (3) ensuring that
candidates for key positions in judicial and law enforcement bodies are
appointed on the principle of transparency, taking into account their prior accomplishments
and the evidence of trust in them.

Meanwhile, the measures approved by parliament on Dec. 4
to renew penalties for false e-declarations or deliberate neglect in declaring
property “don’t have an adequately restraining effect, and therefore, are not
an effective instrument for preventing corruption,” according to the roadmap,
as published on Twitter. The text also called for creating a reliable
foundation as soon as possible for ensuring the institutional independence and
the uninterrupted effective work of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of
Ukraine. It also offers recommendations on the work of the National Agency for
Preventing Corruption in ensuring appropriate sanctions for false
e-declarations. It called for an independent process in selecting the next head
of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office.

Zenon Zawada: Most of
these measures require legislation that is currently in the pipeline, which
should be approved in the next three months. We don’t see any obstacles to them
as the Zelensky administration has shown it will do what’s necessary when
Western oversight and pressure kicks in. And a solid majority in The People’s
Servant party exists to approve the necessary legislation.