Ukraine’s NABU Ends Multiple Criminal Proceedings After Illicit Enrichment Legalization

20 March 2019 18:19

Kyiv’s top anti—corruption agency has already terminated 16 criminal proceedings – just weeks after the Ukrainian government ruled that the law on illegal enrichment was unconstitutional – according to a statement to Hromadske by the National Anti—corruption Bureau (NABU).

Kyiv’s top anti-corruption agency has already terminated 16 criminal proceedings – just weeks after the Ukrainian government ruled that the law on illegal enrichment was unconstitutional – according to a statement to Hromadske by the National Anti-corruption Bureau (NABU).

As of March 14, 25 other cases were partially ended. The NABU is expected to close dozens of other criminal proceedings regarding illegal enrichment.

One of the high-profile investigations that was terminated involved mayor of Odesa Gennady Trukhanov.

This comes weeks after Ukraine’s Constitutional Court declared Article 368-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – also known as the law on illegal enrichment – to be unconstitutional on February 26.

Earlier on December 12, 2017, 59 lawmakers appealed to the Constitutional Court to repeal this law. Their interests in court were represented by a deputy Pavlo Penzienik of the People's Front party.

The repeal of the law on illegal enrichment could jeopardize future cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), an institution with which Ukraine has billions of outstanding loans.

Criminal liability for illegal enrichment in Ukraine was introduced in 2015 as part of the EU Visa Liberalization Action Plan and was a condition for IMF loans.