Ukraine parliament restores powers of anti-corruption agency in bid for foreign loans

FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wearing a protective face mask applauds during a parliamentary session to discuss a banking reform bill in Kiev, Ukraine May 13, 2020. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian lawmakers voted to restore the powers of the NAZK anti-corruption agency on Tuesday in a bid to secure new loans from the International Monetary Fund to fight a sharp economic slump caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The constitutional court had ruled in October against some anti-corruption laws, citing as excessive the punishment for false information on officials' asset declarations. It also struck down some powers of the NAZK agency which is responsible for checking the asset declarations.