the 2nd point is that in just 1st year of his presidency there were some very good achievements in our relations with russia and they were promising for example the exchange of prisoners including the return of the famous director or all accts in seoul who was a political prisoner in russia russia during the our vessels captured. at the carriage trade so there was a good period now there is the bad period but it doesn't mean that we will not find a solution that will bring very good period and we will find will settle the conflict without crossing our red lines mr kerr labor it's clear that if you want more help from washington in the west you're going to have to do more to deal with the rampant political corruption in your country aren't you the state department says that's key to securing ukraine's democratic institutions its economic prosperity and your atlantic future every year the same message from the

u.s. from europe year after year why are you not doing better on this front. well 1st we're doing it for ourselves not for the sake of support when you're not. doing you're not doing it at all you're not getting to grips with corrupt while you are in your country you are you are your story you either misinformed or exaggerating it was under the present of. under the present selenski that the anti-corruption court finally started functioning in ukraine and it was a very long battle to set up the court and make it operational unfortunately the previous president did not allow that to happen president selenski did and he does not interfere in the operations of the court when you can see to tional court of ukraine another body of our judicial system to try to destroy an anti-corruption

reform it was the president who stepped in immediately and then and he was followed by the government and the parliament who restored parts of critical legislation that was declared null and void now in void by by the constitution of course things are happening and you know every country is is a difficult combination of there is factors but this country is moving in the right direction and those who are calling on us to move faster they cordially invited to come and join us and help us well those who are you are called yearly inviting with those who were there last week if you look at the state department's human rights report the latest one what's clear is that what's damaging western confidence in you is this continual drumbeat of human rights abuses that are reported in your country as pointed out in the latest human rights report from washington the concern that's highlighted is not just the abuse that the corruption the abuse or

torture that's carried out by state employees in your security service that's bad enough but the impunity that surrounds them the fact they can. or with a pretty strong assurance that they will get away with it are you happy about that when it comes to human rights abuses in security institutions you know this is something that is not just one of the systemic nor large scale and unfortunately to my deepest regrets present and not only in ukraine but also in other countries of europe will follow recommendations of the european community against torture on that and we enjoy excellent cooperation with them otherwise i do not understand what kind of systemic violations of human rights you are referring to well it's quite clear in the report the report says abuse of detainees remains a widespread problem the government generally failed to take adequate steps to prosecute or punish most officials who committed abuses most officials resulting in

a climate of impunity that couldn't be clearer could it that's from your friends in washington. you are probably you are referring to the situation in prisons with regard to the imprisoned. imprisoned persons this is a big scorch not only for ukraine but also for other european countries but. this is not a large scale systemic oppression of human rights happening across the country as i said to you answering my previous question we are absolutely cooperating with all human right bodies including the council of europe and the european union to address outstanding issues related to the treatment of prisoners in. in prisons one of the other key issues which is being raised by washington is the low level of confidence reported in your judges the us says that this by the efforts to

reform the judiciary and the prosecutor general's office corruption among judges and prosecutors remained in demick in demick why is it that your absolutely why have you told your event when he was able to guarantee the rule of law in your country. well 1st rule of law and judiciary is not the same thing traditionally it is part of the rule of law and there is a rule of law in this country but the one of the what its weakest point that requires. systemic attention is judiciary our judicial system is in bad shape i can fully agree with that it's i as a citizen i regret it. and the president and the government and the parliament they are all addressing this issue in close cooperation with our international partners and the venice commission of the council of europe because

we all realize that judiciary is an essential important element for foreign investments and for bringing also for for bringing justice to the country for for protecting human rights in the country so we are addressing it this problem through a set of reforms conducted in the closest possible cooperation with international institutions and international partners this is a good bargain so some judges were pressured by high level politicians others reportedly took bribes in exchange for giving particular verdicts if they're found to be breaking the law like that why can't they be removed from office i'm not aware of any report that a member of the government or the president's office would be pressuring pressuring . a judicial and a quarter or a judge quite to the contrary as some of the. elements of the ukrainian

judiciary are putting pressure on the government and on by issue. ill legitimate judgments in particular the one that i mentioned the judgment of the constitutional court the right to destroy the anticorruption the reform that was designed and implemented by ukraine and its friends and partners from abroad but i'm sure that there will come this problem as well because no corrupt judge can succeed against the government and the people of ukraine that are willing to overcome the resolve and overcome this problem what about the press journalists to a feeling the heat in your country when they deal with sensitive topics washington says violence against the breast remain the problem with human rights groups blaming government inaction in solving crimes against them why this action on the

part of the government well the problem of press should be considered from 2 sides on the one side is the problem of this information flowing into the country and spreading around among among citizens this is something that the government should be addressing and is addressing to ensure security of the country on the other hand . we do have to ensure the freedom of speech and we are absolutely committed to it . and of course to ensure safety of journalists i'm not aware of any recent cases where government agents or a representative for someone associated with the government would be conducting would be suppressing freedom of speech in fact. the criticism against the president the parliament the government as a whole is a coming from many many corners and that's normal because we live in

a democracy and it's vibrant and there are many different opinions all these can can exist can and should exist in a free. democratic country however we will not allow. this information specifically coming from russian media to. destroy our people's most people's minds is the question is also to what extent you're protecting your journalist because the state department report mentioned a journalist from her ahmad scale who was beaten by a police officer while he was filming protests in front of a government building that was april last year 7 months later the state's bureau of investigations was still quote looking into it is that good enough as far as you're concerned well if we start picking up one specific case and focus on it of course this occasion will look at doom and gloom i. am where i'm aware of this case i find it disturbing as well and i stand on the on the side of

a journalist in this particular case but please do not try to create a picture of a doom and gloom picture ban on i'm not granting any cases taking out taking out of the context now we're in a in a dialogue with you i'm just trying to make the point yes i'm not creating any any image that hasn't been reflected in the state department human rights report just one final question you talk about how your protecting your country and you talk about getting your land back do you seriously imagine a day when the russians will say to you sorry we took crimea big mistake have it back what has that train left the station well did you imagine that the soviet union was one day would seriously say eastern germany can go back to germany and reunite again i'm sure that if your leadership and your politicians never imagined

that they would never succeed. mr been a pleasure having you thank you very much thank you.

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