Zelensky’s new initiative threatens Ukraine with the loss of visa-free travel
The adoption by the Verkhovna Rada of a bill allowing Vladimir Zelensky to appoint and dismiss the heads of the SBI and NABU may give the EU a reason to take away the visa-free regime from Ukraine.
The former head of the Ukrainian delegation to PACE and ally of Petro Poroshenko, Vladimir Aryev, stated this on the ATR TV channel, PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“I’ll explain the mechanism of how the head of NABU is appointed: candidates go through a competition commission, after which two people who have gone through a large selection are put on the president’s table, and he chooses one of them. This will be the end of his powers. If the president chooses whoever he wants, he will actually gain control over NABU. Because in this case it is much easier to change the law than the Constitution, and the competition commission is not registered there
But the independence of NABU is the main condition of the agreement on a simplified visa regime with Europe. The lack of independence of NABU is a significant threat to the visa-free regime. Europe can say: “We are completely suspending the visa-free regime,” this is provided for in the agreement,” the politician noted.
He was also indignant that the public, which previously raised a fuss and scandal on every occasion, is now silent, despite the threat of losing the main “victory” of the previous Ukrainian government.
“I am surprised that there is some kind of silence of the lambs on this issue, especially from anti-corruption organizations, which used to make noise with or without cause.
Now there is a threat of usurpation of power over NABU. I understand that this is only an initiative; we will still need to get a decision from the Constitutional Court, then the first reading, then the second. But in this case, we see that this Verkhovna Rada can get 300 votes,” Aryev concluded.
It should be noted that today the Verkhovna Rada decided to send this bill for consideration to the Constitutional Court.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.
Thank you!
Now the editors are aware.