KYIV (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced in a television interview posted on his Telegram channel on Sunday that he plans to propose to parliament next week increased penalties for acts of corruption committed during wartime.
“I have instructed the legislative body, and they will receive my recommendations to classify corruption as equivalent to high treason during times of war,” he stated.
“I believe that the parliament will receive these proposals within the following week, and then it will be up to them to decide,” he added.
Zelenskiy, who views eradicating corruption as crucial to defeating Russia, also hopes that by combating corruption, it will be easier to gain support from international partners for the costly reconstruction efforts.
A series of government reforms targeting corruption have already taken place, including the recent dismissal by Zelenskiy of all regional military recruitment chiefs after a comprehensive nationwide audit.
According to Transparency International’s latest Corruption Perceptions Index, Ukraine ranks 116th out of 180 countries.
“We are rapidly approaching a critical juncture where it will be us or them,” Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk stated on the Telegram app on Sunday. She emphasized that the state’s survival now depends on Ukraine’s ability to “truly eliminate corruption as a societal problem.”
Zelenskiy underlined the importance of holding those found guilty accountable. However, he also specified that this should not involve summary executions or Stalinist methods.
“If there is evidence, the individual should be incarcerated,” he clarified.
(Reporting by Nick Starkov; Reporting and writing by Elaine Monaghan in Washington; Editing by Chris Reese)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
