Kiev, Ukraine. The former head of the Ukrainian FBI opened up in a television interview and said a lot of things about Ukrainian corruption, Kiev political criminals are really wishing he had not, including his old boss, Petro Poroshenko.
“It will only be possible to discuss a real fight against corruption when people’s deputies’ immunity is lifted, as stated by the leader of the Justice civil-political movement,” former chairman of the SBU Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, in an interview with 112 TV channel.
The Former Ukrainian FBI chief is drawing attention to the fact that currently all members of Ukrainian congress and the President-Petro Poroshenko are immune from prosecution for corruption. Under law in Ukraine, nothing stops them from taking bribes as much as they wish.
“I believe that the most important thing, which should have been done long time ago is to lift all people’s deputies’ immunity from prosecution. As soon as it is done, then it will be possible to talk about the beginning of a Ukrainian fight against corruption,” he said.
The next step, according to Nalyvaichenko, must be the lifting of immunity of other officials, including the president.
“And then everyone in the office knows they no longer have immunity, and when they accept a bribe they will not dodge criminal responsibility,” the leader of the Justice movement said. “Everyone should be equal before the law. No immunity.” Commenting on the proposal of the Prosecutor General’s Office to lift immunity from three people’s deputies due to the results of checking their electronic declarations, Nalyvaichenko noted that there are many more such “drawer stashers.”
“They are drawer stashers—because they stashed cash in the drawers, which they stole after they came to parliament. There are hundreds of them. Why only three?” Nalyvaichenko asked.
His remarks have set off a firestorm of sheer panic from Kiev to Brussels, right up and on to Washington. The last thing these western governments can have happen is their citizens become aware that billions of dollars are going to people who have automatic get out of jail free cards from the moment they are elected.
“My understanding of the real fight against corruption is to lift all people’s deputies’ immunity and make everyone equal before the law,” he said.
He also stressed again the need to establish the Anti-Corruption court. “It should have been done two years ago when the NABU (National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine) was created.” he stressed.
The anti-corruption courts are not open for negotiation. The IMF has told Ukraine, that if such courts are not opened very soon, future billions of dollars headed to Ukraine will be cut off.