US presses Zelenskyy for 'independent' prosecutor to address corruption

US State Department has called on Ukraine’s leadership to appoint a transparent successor to the sacked prosecutor as the country was criticised for mismanaging corruption.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stands at the podium during a joint news conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in Kyiv, Ukraine, July 3, 2022.
AP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stands at the podium during a joint news conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in Kyiv, Ukraine, July 3, 2022.

The United States has urged Ukraine to pick a credible top prosecutor to replace one sacked by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calling for action on corruption even as Kiev battles Russia.

"We join the people of Ukraine in emphasizing the importance of transparently appointing a highly qualified and truly independent successor as prosecutor general," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters on Tuesday.

"The independence and impartiality of the prosecutor general is vital to ensuring the integrity of accountability efforts in Ukraine," he said.

Price said that the fight against corruption, long a major concern in Ukraine, was critical as the country seeks membership in the European Union.

"Corruption must be combated even as Ukraine defends itself against Russia's war of aggression. Russia's war against Ukraine poses an external threat. Corruption poses an internal threat," he said.

READ MORE: Ukraine's Zelenskyy sacks top officials as Russia warns of 'doomsday'

Fighting corruption

Zelenskyy announced earlier this month that he was firing prosecutor general Iryna Venediktova as well as security chief Ivan Bakanov.

Zelenskyy cited the need to act against suspected treason by officials supporting Russia. 

The president had been critical of the two senior figures' performance even before Russia's incursion on February 24.

The United States, which has poured billions of dollars into Ukraine to help it repel Russia, has a memorable history of addressing corruption in Ukraine.

President Joe Biden, while serving as vice president, demanded on a trip to Kiev that Ukraine fire an earlier prosecutor general seen as ineffective in fighting corruption, warning that the United States would otherwise withhold $1 billion in loan guarantees.

The episode became the source of allegations by former president Donald Trump, who was impeached for withholding security aid to Ukraine unless Zelenskyy agreed to dig up dirt on Biden.

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