Ukrainian Anti-Corruption Investigators Say They're Probing Vote-Buying Scheme By Lawmakers

"Ukraine's leading anti-corruption agencies said they were investigating alleged vote-buying by members of parliament, and that security services were hindering efforts to conduct searches. The probe, announced December 27, was the latest in a series of investigations by the two agencies -- the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine -- that have roiled politics inside Ukraine."

"The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office -- known as SAPO -- said that its investigators had allegedly identified "an organized criminal group" that included current lawmakers in the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament. The group members, SAPO said, received illegal benefits in exchange for their votes in parliament. No further details were released. Relatedly, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, known as NABU, said its investigators were being blocked from accessing administrative buildings used by members of parliament."

"The agency charged with providing security for lawmakers, the State Protection Agency, denied the accusations, telling RFE/RL that guards were merely verifying the identities of the investigators. "The fact is that NABU employees are trying to bring unfamiliar or incomprehensible people into the territory of the regime, into the territory of the government entity,"service spokesman Oleksiy Morozov said. Established in 2015 as part of sweeping reforms aimed at uprooting entrenched corruption, the two agencies have built a reputation for conducting politically charged investigations"

Two Ukrainian anti-corruption bodies, the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), announced probes into alleged vote-buying by lawmakers, alleging an organized criminal group received illegal benefits in exchange for parliamentary votes. NABU reported investigators were blocked from entering MPs' administrative buildings. The State Protection Agency denied obstruction, saying guards were verifying identities and cited a spokesman criticizing NABU actions. Both agencies were established in 2015 during reforms to combat entrenched corruption and are known for politically sensitive probes and efforts to preserve independence from other law enforcement entities.

Read at RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty