Latest news with #ProsecutorGeneral'sOffice
Mint
3 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Ukraine's Anti-Graft Crackdown Sparks Protests Against Zelenskiy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy approved a law to strip anti-corruption agencies of their powers despite opposition, triggering the first outbreak of popular discontent against his leadership since Russia's full-scale invasion began. Hundreds of mostly young people joined rallies in the capital of Kyiv, the western city of Lviv, and the southern city of Odesa on Tuesday evening in protest against legislation that placed the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine under the control of the Prosecutor General's Office, whose head is appointed by the president. Zelenskiy dismissed concerns raised by the opposition and allies from the Group of Seven nations that such a move would hamstring efforts to tackle high-level graft. NABU and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office were both established at the request of Western donors a decade ago. The unprecedented protests erupted as the capital has been suffering almost daily barrages of deadly drone and missile strikes, underscoring the growing sense of anger in society over Zelenskiy's attempts to concentrate power within a narrow circle of his close associates. It also comes as Ukraine tries to convince its Western allies, especially in the European Union, to deliver and pay for weapon supplies and continue financial assistance. Protesters in Kyiv gathered near one of the downtown theaters close to the presidential office carrying homemade posters with slogans including 'Why do I need a system that works against me?' and 'Do we want to be like Russia?' Were the discontent to escalate, it would add pressure on the war-torn nation, suffering from Russia's grinding offensive along a 1,000-kilometer front and intensified airstrikes targeting multiple cities. The protests come despite martial law, which remains in place and prohibits mass gatherings. Ukraine has a history of mass demonstrations which have morphed into successful revolutions, sweeping aside corrupt and authoritarian governments. Among the protesters in Kyiv were military veterans like Mykola Hradnov-Savytskyi, 31, who fought in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region and lost both legs after being wounded last year. 'I am now trying to integrate into society,' he told Bloomberg News. 'I am here to support conscious people who will not allow harm to be done to Ukraine.' Several opposition lawmakers, along with Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko — a former boxing heavyweight champion who has been at odds with Zelenskiy's administration — joined the protest in the capital. Earlier on Tuesday, 263 lawmakers in the 450-seat legislature voted in favor of the bill. The measure was part of a raft of amendments to the criminal code pushed through Ukraine's parliament, where Zelenskiy's Servant of the People party has a majority. Opposition members had sought to block the measure, with several shouting 'shame' as the vote proceeded. Semen Kryvonos, the chief of NABU, demanded that Zelenskiy veto the law. While foreign allies strongly support Ukraine in its war against Russia, having provided tens of billions of US dollars since 2022, a significant setback in anti-corruption reforms could jeopardize further assistance. Moreover, the crackdown on anti-graft institutions may stall Ukraine's efforts to joint the European Union and risk the suspension of its visa-free regime with the block. Concern among Ukraine's wartime allies was stoked on Monday when authorities carried out sweeping raids targeting anti-graft agencies. An unnamed employee of NABU was detained same day under suspicion of sending data on the identities of Ukrainian law enforcement officers to Russia's intelligence services, the prosecutor's office said. The ambassadors from the Group of Seven nations expressed 'serious concerns' about the raids, which targeted at least 15 NABU detectives, saying they intend to discuss the developments with the Ukrainian government. The American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, a business association, urged Zelenskiy in a statement not to sign the proposed legislation and to continue 'supporting the independence of anti-corruption institutions.' Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka, who oversees Ukraine's EU integration promised to respect all the country's commitments on its path to EU membership. 'Ukraine acts responsibly in strengthening the rule of law and treats ensuring an efficient fight against corruption and the implementation of international commitments with utmost seriousness,' he said on Facebook. 'On these matters, there can be no compromise.'
Bloomberg
4 days ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Ukrainian Raids Spark Concerns Over Kyiv's Anti-Graft Efforts
Sweeping raids at Ukraine's independent, anti-corruption agency conducted by law enforcement officials sparked concern over the government's dedication to longstanding efforts to strengthen the rule of law. An unnamed employee of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, known as NABU, was detained in Kyiv under suspicion of spying for Russia, the Prosecutor General's Office said Monday in a statement. He is accused of sending data on the identities of Ukrainian law enforcement officers to Russia's intelligence services, it said.
AsiaOne
6 days ago
- Politics
- AsiaOne
Senior Brazilian official says judiciary won't be intimidated by US visa bans, World News
BRASILIA - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called a US decision to impose visa bans on officials involved in former President Jair Bolsonaro's trial "arbitrary" and "baseless," and said foreign interference in the judiciary was "unacceptable." In a statement on Saturday (July 19), the leftist leader said the action violated fundamental principles of respect and sovereignty between nations. In an escalation of tensions between US President Donald Trump and the government of Latin America's largest economy, Washington imposed visa restrictions on Friday on Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, his family and other unnamed court officials. The visa bans were a response to the Supreme Court's decision to issue search warrants and restraining orders targeting Trump ally Bolsonaro, who is accused of plotting a coup to overturn the results of a 2022 election he lost. "I am certain that no form of intimidation or threat, from anyone, will compromise the most important mission of Brazil's powers and institutions, which is to permanently defend and uphold the democratic rule of law," said Lula. Solicitor general Jorge Messias, the top judicial official for Lula's executive branch, said in a statement posted on X late Friday that Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet was also targeted by the ban. Messias said no "improper manoeuvre" or "sordid conspiratorial act" would intimidate the judiciary in carrying out its duties with independence, as he condemned what he also described as arbitrary US visa revocations targeting Brazilian officials for fulfilling their constitutional responsibilities. In addition to Moraes, seven other justices from Brazil's 11-member Supreme Court were also hit by the US visa restrictions, Government Institutional Relations Minister Gleisi Hoffmann said on Friday. They include justices Luis Roberto Barroso, Dias Toffoli, Cristiano Zanin, Flavio Dino, Carmen Lucia, Edson Fachin, and Gilmar Mendes. The Prosecutor General's Office and the Supreme Court did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Trump has criticised the proceedings against Bolsonaro as a "witch hunt", a term he has used to describe his own treatment by political opponents, and has called for the charges to be dropped. In a letter last week, he announced a 50 per cent tariff on Brazilian goods starting Aug 1, opening the message with criticism of the trial. Bolsonaro is on trial before Brazil's Supreme Court on charges of plotting a coup to stop Lula from taking office in January 2023. The right-wing firebrand has denied that he led an attempt to overthrow the government but has acknowledged taking part in meetings aimed at reversing the election's outcome. [[nid:720356]]
Japan Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Today
Tensions rise as Lula blasts U.S. over visa sanctions tied to Bolsonaro trial
By Marcela Ayres Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called a U.S. decision to impose visa bans on officials involved in former President Jair Bolsonaro's trial "arbitrary" and "baseless," and said foreign interference in the judiciary was "unacceptable." In a statement on Saturday, the leftist leader said the action violated fundamental principles of respect and sovereignty between nations. In an escalation of tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and the government of Latin America's largest economy, Washington imposed visa restrictions on Friday on Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, his family and other unnamed court officials. The visa bans were a response to the Supreme Court's decision to issue search warrants and restraining orders targeting Trump ally Bolsonaro, who is accused of plotting a coup to overturn the results of a 2022 election he lost. "I am certain that no form of intimidation or threat, from anyone, will compromise the most important mission of Brazil's powers and institutions, which is to permanently defend and uphold the democratic rule of law," said Lula. Solicitor general Jorge Messias, the top judicial official for Lula's executive branch, said in a statement posted on X late Friday that Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet was also targeted by the ban. Messias said no "improper maneuver" or "sordid conspiratorial act" would intimidate the judiciary in carrying out its duties with independence, as he condemned what he also described as arbitrary U.S. visa revocations targeting Brazilian officials for fulfilling their constitutional responsibilities. In addition to Moraes, seven other justices from Brazil's 11-member Supreme Court were also hit by the U.S. visa restrictions, Government Institutional Relations Minister Gleisi Hoffmann said on Friday. They include justices Luis Roberto Barroso, Dias Toffoli, Cristiano Zanin, Flavio Dino, Carmen Lucia, Edson Fachin, and Gilmar Mendes. The Prosecutor General's Office and the Supreme Court did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Trump has criticised the proceedings against Bolsonaro as a "witch hunt", a term he has used to describe his own treatment by political opponents, and has called for the charges to be dropped. In a letter last week, he announced a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods starting August 1, opening the message with criticism of the trial. Bolsonaro is on trial before Brazil's Supreme Court on charges of plotting a coup to stop Lula from taking office in January 2023. The right-wing firebrand has denied that he led an attempt to overthrow the government but has acknowledged taking part in meetings aimed at reversing the election's outcome. © Thomson Reuters 2025.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Tensions rise as Lula blasts U.S. over visa sanctions tied to Bolsonaro trial
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called a U.S. decision to impose visa bans on officials involved in former President Jair Bolsonaro's trial "arbitrary" and "baseless," and said foreign interference in the judiciary was "unacceptable." In a statement on Saturday (July 19, 2025), the leftist leader said the action violated fundamental principles of respect and sovereignty between nations. In an escalation of tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and the government of Latin America's largest economy, Washington imposed visa restrictions on Friday (July 18, 2025) on Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, his family and other unnamed court officials. The visa bans were a response to the Supreme Court's decision to issue search warrants and restraining orders targeting Mr. Trump ally Mr. Bolsonaro, who is accused of plotting a coup to overturn the results of a 2022 election he lost. "I am certain that no form of intimidation or threat, from anyone, will compromise the most important mission of Brazil's powers and institutions, which is to permanently defend and uphold the democratic rule of law," said Mr. Lula. Solicitor General Jorge Messias, the top judicial official for Mr. Lula's executive branch, said in a statement posted on X late Friday that Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet was also targeted by the ban. Mr. Messias said no "improper maneuver" or "sordid conspiratorial act" would intimidate the judiciary in carrying out its duties with independence, as he condemned what he also described as arbitrary U.S. visa revocations targeting Brazilian officials for fulfilling their constitutional responsibilities. In addition to Mr. Moraes, seven other justices from Brazil's 11-member Supreme Court were also hit by the U.S. visa restrictions, Government Institutional Relations Minister Gleisi Hoffmann said on Friday. They include justices Luis Roberto Barroso, Dias Toffoli, Cristiano Zanin, Flavio Dino, Carmen Lucia, Edson Fachin, and Gilmar Mendes. The Prosecutor General's Office and the Supreme Court did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Mr. Trump has criticised the proceedings against Mr. Bolsonaro as a "witch hunt", a term he has used to describe his own treatment by political opponents, and has called for the charges to be dropped. In a letter last week, he announced a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods starting August 1, opening the message with criticism of the trial. Mr. Bolsonaro is on trial before Brazil's Supreme Court on charges of plotting a coup to stop Mr. Lula from taking office in January 2023. The right-wing firebrand has denied that he led an attempt to overthrow the government but has acknowledged taking part in meetings aimed at reversing the election's outcome.
