MPs, NABU Recommend Parliament Allow Eavesdropping

Detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) should be allowed to eavesdrop independently, NABU chief Artem Sytnyk said during an anti-corruption meeting in the Parliament.

"If the Parliament creates the legal framework to empower NABU to do eavesdropping, we would be able to deliver more efficiently," he said. "Some people say, ‘They will abuse this right.’ Well, we have limits, and we are accountable in everything we do," Sytnyk claimed.

Eavesdropping powers will make NABU more independent, so that "no one can interfere in our activities, and we are responsible for what we do", Sytnyk added.

He explained that NABU detectives currently seek the assistance of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) if they have to wiretap an alleged perpetrator. But this creates risks of data leaks.

In any way, NABU will have to seek a court permit for eavesdropping in every particular case and prove why it is necessary. "We can’t just say to the court, ‘Let us eavesdrop on this person.’ We always have to provide the respective evidence," Sytnyk explained.

In the meanwhile, the anti-corruption committee of the Parliament has unanimously decided to recommend the Parliament to grant the NABU eavesdropping powers. "If the Parliament adopted the respective law, the NABU would be able to do eavesdropping, subject to court permit," Yehor Soboliev stressed.

Source: Roman Kravets, Ukrayinska Pravda