For the duration of the war
Selenskyj wants to punish corruption like treason
08/27/2023 10:14 p.m
Ukraine needs corruption just less than in peacetime. In addition, the EU is putting pressure on them. If the country wants to join, it must do something in this area in particular. President Selenskyj reacts and wants to see corruption punished like treason. He can put criminals behind bars for decades.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants corruption to be equated with treason for the duration of the war. In an interview, Zelenskyy said he wanted to submit such a bill to parliament.
“I don’t know if the legislature will support this proposal – but I will certainly propose it,” he said. Zelenskyj was convinced that such legal equality could be helpful for the duration of the Russian war of aggression against his country. A successful fight against corruption and the informal economy is also in the hands of citizens and companies, he warned. “We have to be honest, we have to pay taxes,” he said in conversation with the journalist Natalija Mossejtschuk.
So far, Ukrainian legislation has provided for various penalties for corruption, ranging from a fine to four years in prison. In particularly severe cases, it can be up to twelve years. Treason, on the other hand, is punishable by 15 years to life imprisonment. Improving the fight against corruption is an important part of the European Commission’s requirements for Ukraine’s possible EU accession. The EU is also demanding that standards in the fight against money laundering be observed and that a law against the excessive influence of oligarchs be implemented.
Free elections are actually not feasible
When asked about the conduct of the next presidential and parliamentary elections in the coming year, Zelenskyy said that he would like to hold them. However, this would require changes in the law, funds from foreign partners and international election observers – also directly on the front line.
According to many experts, no elections can be held during the war for constitutional reasons. For example, because of martial law, a number of basic human rights – such as freedom of speech and freedom of assembly – may be restricted, which would contradict a democratic election.