World Bank concerned about 'attacks' on NABU, SAPO
The World Bank said this in a press release, which was made available to Ukrinform.
"We are deeply concerned about recent attacks on independent anti-corruption institutions such as NABU and SAPO in Ukraine that threaten their ability to fight corruption and recover stolen assets," the report says.
The World Bank notes that it's critical they have the legislative framework and resources to fulfil their mandate.
NABU's press service, following a meeting between the NABU director and the World Bank president, said that the parties had discussed the "pressure that is being exerted on NABU," the course of investigations to expose top corruption and the prospect for the creation of an anti-corruption court in Ukraine, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.
International human rights defenders and Western partners of Ukraine have long called on Kyiv to step up the fight against corruption, in particular, by creating a special anti-corruption court that would have carefully selected judges and deal with corruption-related cases.
Latest statements on the support of the work of anti-corruption bodies in Ukraine, in particular, NABU and SAPO, have been expressed in recent days by the IMF, the EU and the United States. In addition, Western diplomats warned that the U.S. could stop aid to the Ukrainian government in the event of the dismissal of the leadership of the anti-corruption authorities, which might occur due to a conflict between the Prosecutor General's Office, NABU and SAPO.
op
