President's Office comments on Tatarov's statement about NABU
"President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly stated that although the recognition of certain provisions of the law 'On the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine' as unconstitutional posed a threat to the NABU's work, it ultimately could not destroy the legitimacy and independence of both the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and its incumbent director. The law will be improved in the near future to bring it into full compliance with the Constitution of Ukraine," the report reads.
Tatarov stated that he works in the Ukrainian president's team and fully supports his vector for cooperation with international partners to strengthen the independence of all anti-corruption bodies.
"Yesterday I expressed my personal opinion, which in no way affects my support for all legislative initiatives by the president to strengthen the independence of all anti-corruption bodies," he said.
According to Andriy Yermak, Head of the President's Office, the position on maintaining the integrity, independence and efficiency of the anti-corruption system in Ukraine, which was expressed at the latest meeting of the National Council on Anti-Corruption Policy, remains unchanged, and only this position is a priority in President Volodymyr Zelensky's team.
Earlier, Tatarov told Ukraine's weekly legal newspaper Law and Business that Artem Sytnyk should resign as NABU director.
On August 28, 2020, the Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional presidential decree No. 218/2015 appointing Sytnyk as NABU director. With its judgment, No. 11-r/2020 of September 16, 2020, the Constitutional Court recognized certain provisions of the law of Ukraine "On the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine" as inconsistent with the Constitution of Ukraine and obliged the Verkhovna Rada to immediately bring the legislation into line with this judgment.
The current law on the NABU stipulates that the parliament may decide to dismiss the director of the bureau only if there is a certain list of grounds, and such a proposal must be submitted to parliament by at least a third of lawmakers.
The Cabinet of Ministers earlier tabled in parliament a bill introducing amendments to the law of Ukraine "On the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine," which changes the procedure for appointing and dismissing the NABU director.
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