Security Committee cleared SBU reform law for final voting
On Sept. 22, parliament’s Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence approved the final text of draft law on the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reform for the second reading. The key benchmark of the reform (deprivation of the service’s investigative function) remains unimplemented. There is a need for the adoption of a separate law (so-called “satellite law”) amending the Criminal Procedure Code, although it has not even been submitted to parliament yet.
SAPO Selection Commission renewed its work
After several months of inaction, on Sept. 27, the Selection Commission of the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office head made the step towards unblocking the competition. Under pressure from independent international members, the commission gathered and appointed the date of the practical task and approved its procedure. However, the competition can be blocked at any moment once again. To do this, controlled members of the commission have to disrupt the quorum.
Council of Judges continues protracting nomination of experts to Ethics Council
Last week the Council of Judges approved the selection procedure for the Ethics Council. According to the document, the selection will be made no earlier than the end of October. This is a clear violation of the law and sabotage of the reform as the law prescribed the council to nominate its exper by mid-September and did not foresee special procedure for the selection.
Moreover, there is no guarantee that the council would nominate the experts at the end. At the moment, they publicly claim that Ethics Council is unconstitutional and demand revision of the respective legislation to favor the prevailing role of Ukrainian judges in the process.
