New political crisis in Ukraine: Zelensky demands dissolution of Constitutional Court

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Ukraine faced a new political crisis today as the Constitutional Court overturned key parts of the anti-corruption law, and President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded the dissolution of the highest national judicial body due to such a decision.

The Court declared the decision on public access to officials' declared income unconstitutional, and also abolished criminal liability for providing false income information.

Judges also decided to strip the National Anti-Corruption Agency of most of its key powers.

Zelensky, a former comedian with no prior political experience, was elected in April 2019, promising to eradicate corruption in the country.

He sharply criticized the court's ruling, warning that it could cost the country Western support.

"We will not have money, we will not have support. We will have a big hole in the state budget, and more importantly, we don't know what surprise the Constitutional Court will prepare for us tomorrow," the president said during a meeting with officials.

He added that the Constitutional Court's decision has no valid legal basis and violates legal norms.

The court's decision has drawn negative reactions from the ambassadors of the Group of Seven most developed countries.

"G7 ambassadors are alarmed by efforts to undermine anti-corruption reforms that followed the Revolution of Dignity," they stated in a statement, referring to the 2014 upheaval that led to the overthrow of one of Zelensky's predecessors.

"We support the Ukrainian people who continue the fight to achieve their aspiration for a prosperous and democratic Ukraine. Too much progress has been made. Ukraine must not return to the past," he said.

The Constitutional Court's decision was made upon the appeal of the "Opposition Bloc - For Life", a pro-Russian political party associated with several important tycoons. Several hundred demonstrators gathered today in front of the Constitutional Court building, demanding the dismissal of the judges.