You're reading: Anti-Corruption Bureau, police investigators get access to Justice Ministry databases to investigate corruption

The Interior Ministry of Ukraine, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Ministry of Justice have formalized work on the exchange of information in the investigation of corruption which will block funds in the accounts of corrupt officials and ensure that punishment is irreversible.

According to an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent, a memorandum on cooperation and exchange of information between the Ministry of Justice, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Interior Ministry for the consolidation of efforts in prevention, detection and investigation into corruption offenses was signed by the heads of these agencies on July 27.

“Today we are taking the first step to join efforts in the fight against one of the main internal enemies of Ukraine – corruption. In this memorandum over the next few months we will have very close cooperation in training and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and police investigators’ access to the registers and databases of the Justice Ministry,” Justice Minister Pavlo Petrenko said.

“The National Anti-Corruption Bureau has extensive powers to combat corruption in the higher echelons of power, and these provisions are stipulated in the law – regarding the possibility of the arrest of property or assets of high-ranking corrupt officials. In fact, without court approval this arrest will be in force within 48 hours. This is necessary to rapidly block the assets that can be brought abroad… The practical side of our cooperation is that the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and police investigators, having access to the databases, will in a few minutes block the property which belongs to one or another official,” Petrenko said while speaking about the practical side of work of the agencies after the signing of the memorandum.

Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said in turn that the signing of the memorandum formalizes the work of at least three authorities.