European Commission on former Ukrainian energy minister's detention: anti-corruption body is delivering and showing results
The EU is closely following Ukraine's anti-corruption policy and recognises the efforts of its anti-corruption bodies, a European Commission spokesperson has said, commenting on reports of the detention of Herman Halushchenko, former Ukrainian energy minister.
Source: a European Pravda correspondent, citing remarks by Paula Pinho, European Commission Chief Spokesperson, during a press briefing on 16 February
Details: Pinho says Ukraine's fight against corruption is yielding results, as evidenced by reports of Halushchenko's detention.
She added that fighting corruption is a key part of Ukraine's EU accession negotiations, and that the EU is closely monitoring progress. "We have asked Ukraine for very concrete reforms that are being undertaken, and we see that the office, which has been established within Ukraine to fight corruption, is delivering and showing results." Pinho noted that this should be kept in mind in light of journalists' questions about Halushchenko's detention and the corruption allegations against him.
The spokesperson stressed that the EU has been monitoring Ukraine's anti-corruption efforts from the very start, when accusations and suspicions of corruption among government officials first emerged.
Asked if the EU had provided funding for Halushchenko's supposed "nuclear schemes", the spokesperson said no.
Pinho emphasised that, as far as she was aware, the EU had not allocated any funds to the nuclear scheme and that no further information was available.
Background:
- On the night of 14-15 February, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) detained Halushchenko while he was attempting to cross the border.
- Halushchenko has been served with a notice of suspicion in the Midas case. He is suspected of large-scale money laundering and was detained while attempting to leave the country.
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