Prime Minister Mark Carney broached the issue of Ukrainian anti-corruption reforms in a July 29 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Carney reaffirmed Canada’s strong ties and support for Ukraine and for a cease-fire in the call, and also mentioned the key “importance of maintaining the independence of anti-corruption agencies,” according to a readout provided by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
Zelenskyy recently walked back legislation that critics had said would limit the independence of the country’s anti-corruption agencies. The legislation would have permitted the prosecutor general of Ukraine to transfer cases and personnel working in the nation’s two primary anti-corruption agencies, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). The bill was signed July 22 and met with protests and criticism from Ukrainian citizens and the EU.
Concerns over the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies were put forward by Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who said this “hampers” Ukraine’s path to become a member of the EU. EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius also raised concerns, saying on social media that trust between Ukraine and its people was “easy to lose with one significant mistake by the leadership,” adding that “transparency & open European dialogue is the only way to repair the damaged trust.”
Zelenskyy put forward a new replacement bill July 25 that met with a better reception from SAPO and NABU, saying the prosecutor general and staff cannot be involved in directing the work or personnel decisions of the anti-corruption agencies. In a July 24 post on X regarding the new bill, Zelenskyy said it “includes real tools, excludes any Russian ties, and upholds the independence of NABU and SAPO.”
A May 6 report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development says that while “Ukraine has made significant strides in reforming its anti‑corruption framework” and combatting conflict of interest issues and transparency in political financing, “regulations must now be implemented to induce change in behaviours and a more resilient culture of integrity across the public administration, including at sub-national level, and in society at large.”
The war in Ukraine started Feb. 24, 2022, after Russian forces invaded Ukrainian territory.
In his July 29 call with Zelenskyy, Carney “condemned Russia’s overnight attacks” and expressed condolences, talking about “the urgent imperative for just and lasting peace.” Carney also reaffirmed Canada’s support for Ukraine, highlighting a recent sanctions package from Ottawa that targets Russia’s energy profits and shadow fleet, as well as $2 billion in fresh support for Ukraine’s military and a $2.3 billion loan to help rebuild Ukrainian infrastructure.
