Poroshenko proposes altering bill on anti-corruption courts

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has proposed creating a working group on the drafting of the bill on anti-corruption courts taking into account the recommendations of the Venice Commission, the press service of the head of state has reported.

The respective proposal was made in a letter to Verkhovna Rada Chairman Andriy Parubiy.

According to the head of state, the submission and registration of a new bill is impossible due to bill No. 6011, which remains on the agenda of the session of the Verkhovna Rada, despite recommendations of the Venice Commission to revoke it.

"In this regard, I propose taking measures stipulated by the rules of procedure of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on revoking the said bill, as well as instructing as soon as possible the head of the concerned committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine regarding the establishment of a working group for the elaboration of the draft law taking into account the recommendations of the Venice Commission," reads the letter.

Poroshenko also noted that "for the successful and rapid adoption of the bill, it should be prepared with the involvement of representatives of all or at least the greater number of parliamentary factions and groups."

The president stressed that the proposals put forward by the working group would be taken into account in the bill, which will be submitted for consideration by the Verkhovna Rada as urgent.

"I emphasize that we must make every effort to pass this bill by the end of this year. Spending on the financing of the Higher Anti-Corruption Court is already foreseen in the draft budget for 2018. This was done in advance, because there is a political will to create such an institution," the head of state said.

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