System meets attempts to reform PGO with punitive measures – Deputy Prosecutor General Sakvarelidze

Deputy Prosecutor General of Ukraine Davit Sakvarelidze says that the number of criminal proceedings initiated against his team exceeds the number of criminal cases against former president Viktor Yanukovych.

“I noticed with great regret and irony that the number of criminal proceedings initiated against our employees exceeds the number of cases against Yanukovych,” he posted on Facebook.

According to Davit Sakvarelidze, it refers to seven proceedings opened over last four months.

He described such proceedings and internal investigations as “manipulations” and “levers of resistance to reforms of the Prosecutor General’s Office.”

“As of now, the General Prosecutor’s Office responds to any steps aimed at the changes in the system with punitive measures against their initiators. All this gives me a reason to make an unambiguous conclusion that the PGO leadership is going to continue its ‘fight’ against any attempt to reform the system with the same pace,” he said.

Deputy Prosecutor General assured that he was not going to retreat. “All these criminal cases and other manipulations do not frighten us. We are ready to continue to work,” he added.

Earlier, the Deputy Prosecutor General said that certain forces in the prosecution system were trying to slow down the reform of the agency.