Despite the pressure NABU will continue attack on top-level corruption — Artem Sytnyk

The Detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) continue to expose corruption schemes without regard to their positions and political expediency, despite increasing attempts to influence the activities of the institution. This was emphasized by the NABU Director Artem Sytnyk on October 3, 2018, at the meeting of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Corruption Prevention and Counteraction.

He highlighted that there are many resonant investigations in the assets of the Bureau regarding persons who had previously avoided criminal liability for corruption.

"Those who at one time supported the creation of the NABU, perhaps with astonishment for themselves, at last felt that the anti-corruption reform in the country works after all. Today, the same people are trying to stop this reform by resorting manipulations on the NABU. I do not exclude various kinds of provocations in the future, the submission of suspicions, the adoption of other politically motivated decisions, the purpose of which is to stop the NABU. Perhaps not as fast as we would like, but we are moving forward," the NABU Director underlined.

Artem Sytnyk expressed confidence that the launch of the High Anti-Corruption Court will closer the moment of non-return of anti-corruption reform in the country.

"When the Anti-Corruption Court starts sentencing, society will see the true result of our work," he said.

The Director reminded that since May 2016, NABU insisted on the need to establish such an independent judiciary as the High Anti-Corruption Court. Inasmuch as cases transferred by the National Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office to courts of general jurisdiction are not actually dealt with.