Ukraine's plea bargain bill in corruption cases under EU Commission review

Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Olha Stefanishyna, shared the information in a comment to Interfax Ukraine.

"Plea bargains are a very common global practice, and they are already present in Ukraine. However, the current mechanism is ineffective, as noted by international experts," said Stefanishyna.

This is why, according to the diplomat, improving the efficiency of plea bargains is provided for in the State Anti-Corruption Program for 2023-2025, the Ukraine Facility plan, and the report on Ukraine within the Enlargement Package, making it part of the reform plan agreed with European partners.

Stefanishyna stated that the bill is being reviewed by the European Commission as part of the enlargement report and will be revised if there are any comments. At the same time, she urged not to succumb to manipulations.

About the draft law

According to the explanatory note, Bill No.11340 aims to improve legislation regarding the provisions that govern plea bargains in criminal proceedings related to corruption and corruption-related offenses.

In particular, the draft law proposes to apply a fine as an additional penalty in case of entering into a relevant agreement in cases where such a penalty is not provided for in the sanction of the article.

Сorruption suspects will be able to pay a fine: 

• for committing a criminal offense - from UAH 204,000 to UAH 2.04 million;
• for committing a minor crime - from UAH 2.05 million to UAH 20.4 million;
• for committing a serious crime - from UAH 20.4 million to UAH 102 million;
• for a particularly serious crime - from UAH 102 million to UAH 204 million.

The Anti-Corruption Center stated that Bill No.11340 allows corrupt individuals to legally evade prison and added that NABU, SAP, and the Anti-Corruption Policy Committee oppose it.

• The Ukrainian Parliament supported the draft law in the first reading on Thursday, July 18.