Zelensky calls on intl partners to support Ukraine amid constitutional crisis
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on international partners to continue supporting Ukraine against the background of a constitutional crisis in the country.
He wrote this in his article entitled "Ukraine courts cannot be allowed to throw out anti-corruption gains" for Financial Times.
Zelensky stressed that Ukraine is under attack not just at its borders, but also "at the heart of its democratic institutions," but Ukraine will fight back.
"I also call on our international partners and allies to keep on supporting us, and prove wrong those who are trying to oppose and derail our cooperation," he said.
In addition, Zelensky addressed Ukraine's pro-reform political forces and civil society.
"In these challenging times, I call on all Ukrainian pro-reform political forces and civil society to unite and cooperate in this fight for the soul and the future of our nation," he said.
On October 27, the Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional Article 366-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine that provides for punishment for inaccurate declaration of assets.
In particular, the article establishes liability in the form of a fine or imprisonment for the submission by subjects of declaration of deliberately inaccurate information in the asset declarations of persons authorized to perform the functions of the state or local government.
On October 28, the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) closed access to the unified state register of asset declarations in pursuance of a ruling of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine. The NACP stated that Constitutional Court judges had made this decision in their own interests as the agency found signs of some of them declaring inaccurate information.
On October 29, President Volodymyr Zelensky held an urgent closed-door meeting of the National Security and Defense Council to determine measures for the immediate proper response of the state to new threats and challenges to national security and defense.
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