The Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze considers the adoption of draft law No.12414 (No. 4555-IX), which destroys the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP), to be a major threat to Ukraine’s European integration.

“Even if we complete all the technical work — we will never be members of the European Union if we do not ensure the rule of law, accountability and responsibility here. Even if you adopt, implement and put into practice all directives and regulations of the European Union. Because this is, first and foremost, about values, this is, first and foremost, about the backbone of democracy. This is, first and foremost, about law and about freedom,” said the Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU, speaking in the plenary hall.

According to her, the anti-corruption infrastructure must be part of a democratic, accountable and responsible state. “Are there questions about the activities of NABU and SAP? Yes, of course. Can their work be improved? 100%. But questions about their work are not an indulgence for the complete destruction of law in this hall,” said Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze.

She noted that the building of the anti-corruption system was one of the greatest achievements of the Revolution of Dignity. “And despite all the resistance, including here in this hall, our team implemented it. And today, by destroying the independence of the backbone of the anti-corruption infrastructure — NABU and SAP — you are not just destroying key state institutions. You are in fact destroying people’s dream and taking the country 12 years back. In essence, you are returning the country to the state when it satisfied the Russians, because it was lawless and undemocratic — and such countries, colleagues, sooner or later fall under the Kremlin’s sphere of influence,” emphasized Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze.

She also reminded the Members of Parliament that financial assistance, which is vital for Ukraine, depends on reforms in the sphere of the rule of law and anti-corruption. “You are putting at risk the funding within the framework of the Ukraine Facility and within other international sources that are tied to our anti-corruption obligations. You are putting at risk the prospects of European integration,” stressed the Chair of the Committee.

She also noted that the adoption of draft law No.12414 carries a direct threat to the visa-free regime. “Because it will cross out the lion’s share of the work that we so painstakingly carried out within the framework of visa liberalization. This is how far, colleagues, you have advanced in destroying the state at such a critical moment of history. And all this, regardless of direct, immediate, or veiled calls from partners to stop this disgrace. And the most terrible thing is that you are doing this despite the grief that millions of Ukrainians are experiencing today, fighting off the enemy. Colleagues, every green button for this draft law is a shot in the back of the people whom you want to rob with impunity, making them incapable of resisting. It is a vote for an undemocratic, police-run and unfree Ukraine,” said the Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU.

She also warned the Members of Parliament that dubious laws will not save them from responsibility before the Ukrainian people. “If you believe that this will somehow give you indulgence from responsibility and you will avoid any criminal cases against you, despite your being immersed in corruption — then, unfortunately, by this decision you are now endangering the entire Ukrainian people. Because the anti-corruption infrastructure was created by us after the Revolution of Dignity in order to be part of the European community. And in order for us to have visa-free travel and move towards Europe. And today you are leading the country into an abyss, but certainly not to the European Union,” said the Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU.

Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze compared draft law No.12414 with the vote for the “dictatorship laws” of 16 January 2014: “Today you voted for the ‘16 January laws’. You will not be forgiven for this!”, said the Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU.