Adoption of European integration laws and transport collapse in Kyiv: highlights for December 8

Adoption of European integration laws

The Verkhovna Rada adopted and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the laws necessary for European integration:

• the first law provides for an increase in the maximum number of NABU staff from 700 to 1000 people. According to it, a stage-by-stage competition will be held to fill additional vacant positions: 100 positions each in 2024, 2025, and 2026;
• the second provides that now the powers of the NACP will not be limited concerning the verification of assets that have already undergone the verification process. The same applies to the verification of property acquired by declarants before appointment to a civil service position;
• the third law gives private universities the right to freely choose the language of studying, which is the official language of the EU. We are talking about teaching one, several, or all disciplines, performing individual tasks, and conducting control activities in the language of a national minority;
• fourth, the SAPO is removed from the structure of the Office of the Prosecutor General and organized into a separate prosecutorial body. However, some MPs and anti-corruption activists complained that the law repeals “Lozovyi’s amendments” only partially.

Thus, the public organization “Anti-Corruption Center” wrote that the head of the relevant committee of the Rada, Serhii Ionushas, adopted a version of the SAP bill, which repeals “Lozovoy’s amendments” only in that part “that will not affect the closure of the current most high-profile corruption cases.”

Transport collapse in Kyiv

Kyiv authorities reported that train traffic from the Demiivska metro station (inclusive) to the Teremky metro station will be stopped while the transport tunnel is being repaired. Approximately, the repair will last 6 months. Trains on the blue line will run only between the stations “Heroiv Dnipra” and “Lybidska” (it will be the final one).

The public initiative “Passengers of Kyiv” reported that the reason for the closure of the stations is the depressurization of the tunnel. A video of water flowing onto the rails appeared online.

In connection with the flooding of the Kyiv metro tunnels, capital law enforcement officers began a pre-trial investigation into the fact of official negligence, which led to serious consequences.

Termination of powers of three deputies

Thus, Maksym Yefimov from the Restoration faction terminated his powers early. Since he was a majoritarian, his seat will be vacant until the end of martial law.

This also applied to Dmytro Shpenov, who recently wrote a letter of resignation as an MP. He is also a majoritarian and non-factional MP.

The Verkhovna Rada prematurely terminated the powers of MP Vitalii Danilov from the Batkivshchyna faction. Instead, Mykhailo Sokolov, who is the next on the list will join parliament.

Other news

• MP Oleksandr Dubinskyi sent parliamentary appeals to the Ministry of Health and the State Bureau of Investigation to satisfy a private interest — obtaining data necessary for protection from criminal prosecution. NAPC reported this.
• The Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee has allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, but individually and under a neutral flag. This means that they are prohibited from having their own teams or displaying state symbols.
• As a result of a missile attack on Pavlohrad, Dnepropetrovsk region, 8 people were injured. One death is also known.
• The Supreme Court of Finland did not agree to extradite to Ukraine one of the leaders of the Russian group “Rusich”, suspected of terrorism. The reason is poor conditions in Ukrainian prisons. The judges also ordered the release of the Russian militant from custody.
• Another group of Ukrainians was evacuated from the Gaza Strip. About 40 people were brought to safe territory, Zelenskyy said.