Votes in exchange for immunity: ’Servant of the People’ deputies demanded to halt NABU investigation before key votes

Votes in exchange for immunity: ’Servant of the People’ deputies demanded to halt NABU investigation before key votes

The media reminds of an important detail: new suspicions against deputies depend on Prosecutor General Kravchenko.

Journalist Yevhen Plinskyi in an article for ZN.UA «Згадати "турборежим". Як парламент прийматиме антисоціальні податкові закони. Спойлер — за гроші» writes that at meetings of the «Servant of the people» faction, people’s deputies openly raised the issue of pressure from law enforcement agencies and demanded its resolution, effectively linking it to voting for bills.

«In February, people’s deputy Olha Vasylevska-Smahlyuk stated that such demands were voiced directly at faction meetings. According to her, it was not an isolated case, and the issue was raised again at closed meetings», — the author clarifies.

During these discussions, deputies were informed about an allegedly reached «компроміс» with NABU regarding «збереження парламентської незалежності». In particular, it was stated that already opened cases would be transferred to court, and new summonses and covert investigative (search) actions in these proceedings were allegedly not planned.

Other participants in meetings with faction leader David Arakhamia also spoke about additional ideas within the so-called «стратегічного відновлення роботи парламенту».

At the same time, investigations regarding people’s deputies in the case of the head of the transport committee and friend of ex-first assistant to the president Serhiy Shefir, Yuriy Kisyel, not only continue but also potentially can be expanded.

«The investigation is definitely not limited to episodes regarding six deputies: detectives are digging both horizontally and vertically. According to our information, about 20 deputies have already been questioned at NABU. And this is not the end», — noted editor of the domestic policy department Inna Vedenikova.

At the same time, according to the publication’s sources, the position of Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko is currently restraining the expansion of the circle of suspects.

After information about possible agreements emerged, the leadership of the anti-corruption agencies reacted publicly, effectively refuting the very fact of any «компромісу». NABU Director Semen Kryvonos stated that there are no agreements regarding changes in approaches to investigations.

«NABU and SAPO have not concluded any agreements with parliamentarians or any other entities regarding non-prosecution for committing corruption crimes», — he emphasized.

Kryvonos also gave an example: the day before, NABU and SAPO reported suspicion to a current people’s deputy. (It refers to the announced suspicion for illegal enrichment of OPFL deputy Oleksandr Kachnyi —media)

SAPO took a similar position. The head of the prosecutor’s office Oleksandr Klymenko emphasized that there are no and cannot be any «індульгенцій» for people’s deputies.

«If there is sufficient evidence — the parliamentarian will be held accountable regardless of surname and party affiliation», — he stated.

At the same time, Klymenko separately reminded of the key detail: decisions on starting proceedings and conducting investigative actions regarding people’s deputies depend on the Prosecutor General. It is he who determines whether the case will be registered and whether investigators will receive permission for further actions.