G7 ambassador remind Ukraine of need to appoint Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office head

MOSCOW. July 12 (Interfax) - G7 ambassadors have reminded Ukraine of the critical importance of the timely appointment of the head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office.

"As we discussed with Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna on July 7, the G7 reiterates the critical importance of the timely appointment of the head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecution's Office for strengthening anti-corruption institutions in Ukraine," Ukrainian media said with the reference to the ambassador's statement on social media.

As reported earlier, the European Commission recommended the granting of the EU candidate status to Ukraine "with the understanding that seven steps will be taken" by Ukraine. The steps include "the appointment of the new head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office through the contest winner's confirmation," the completion of the election process, and the appointment of the new director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine.

The contest commission for the election of the new head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office has been unable to confirm the contest winner since last year. National Anti-Corruption Bureau detective Oleksandr Klimenko scored 246 points as a candidate, while prosecutor Andriy Sinyuk from the Prosecutor General's Office gained 229 points.

The updated economic and financial policy memorandum between Ukraine and the International Monetary Fund envisaged the election of the new head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office by December 2021.