U.S. Justice Dept to send resident legal advisor to U.S. embassy in Kiev

MOSCOW. April 18 (Interfax) - The U.S. Department of Justice will send a resident legal advisor to the U.S. embassy in Ukraine in summer to work with Ukrainian colleagues on complex justice sector issues.

"This advisor will work with Ukrainian partners on a variety of complex justice sector issues," Ukrainian media quoted U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland as saying at a joint press conference with Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andrei Kostin.

Kostin, for his part, said he believes that this step will help bolster communication and cooperation between Ukraine and the U.S.

According to Ukrainian media reports, the Ukrainian prosecutor general and U.S. Department of Defense Inspector General Robert Storch discussed control over the international assistance being provided by partners to Ukraine and ways to strengthen anti-corruption infrastructure.

"We are completely transparent and open to cooperation," Ukrainian media outlets quoted Kostin as saying in a statement circulated by the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office on social media on Monday.

Kostin and Storch "discussed control over the international assistance being extended by partners to Ukraine and the strengthening of anti-corruption infrastructure," the Prosecutor General's Office said.

"A lot has been done to fight corruption in our country. The heads of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau have been appointed. All anti-corruption institutions are fully operational," Kostin said.

He thanked the U.S. for supporting Ukraine's efforts to ensure integrity and the rule of law.

The Ukrainian prosecutor general is currently in the U.S. on a working visit.