Ukrainian President Calls Extraordinary Parliamentary Session To Discuss Corruption

Parliamentary speaker Dmytro Razumkov told journalists February 28 that officials from the Interior Ministry, Security Service, State Bureau of Investigations, National Anti-Corruption Bureau, and Prosecutor-General’s Office will present themselves to lawmakers. He did not give further details.

Shortly thereafter, the Ukrainian president added to parliament’s agenda “certain issues regarding the Cabinet of Minister’s legislative projects” as well as the desire to learn “about the activity of law enforcement bodies.”

Zelenskiy, a political novice, won a landslide victory in April 2019 on a promise to fight corruption, an endemic problem that has hampered economic growth.

The United States and Europe have encouraged Zelenskiy to use his popularity and majority in the parliament to push through reforms to fight corruption and reduce the influence of oligarchs.