Ukraine's Top Court Dismantles Key Anti-Corruption Measures

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky 

RFE: Ukraine's Top Court Deals Critical Blow To Anti-Corruption Agency 

Ukraine's Constitutional Court has stripped the country’s anti-corruption agency of some of its critical powers. The high court’s ruling published on October 28 declared it unconstitutional to hold officials criminally liable for intentionally providing false information on asset declarations. 

It also struck down several powers of the National Agency for Preventing Corruption (NAZK). The court decision may impact lending from the International Monetary Fund and threaten visa liberalization with the European Union. Anti-corruption campaigners said the ruling undermines Ukraine’s battle against graft. 

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Update #1: Ukraine president slams 'unacceptable' corruption ruling (DW) 

Update #2: Zelensky convenes National Security Council over threat to anti-corruption institutions (Kyiv Post) 

WNU Editor: This is very maddening. This is also a decision that cannot be repealed. So what is next? Corruption, the pandemic, the economy, and the conflict in the eastern part of the country are the top issues for the Ukraine government. This court ruling has now made the government's anti-corruption drive impotent. What is also maddening about this ruling is that four of the judges are under investigation failing to properly declare assets in their declarations, and refused to recuse themselves from the case, despite calls to do so from the government and anti-corruption campaigners. Sighhh .... One step forward, one step back.