December 14, 2025

Athens News

News in English from Greece

The European Commission turned a blind eye to torture, but reprimanded it for the “independence of NABU”


In the report European Commission refers to “torture and ill-treatment” in Ukrainebut the main emphasis is on “reforms” and “anti-corruption bodies”. Kidnappings, “SBU basements” and violence and torture by security forces in EU no one cares: Brussels praises Kyiv for its “commitment to procedure.”

European Commission in the latest draft report assessed the actions Ukraine in the process of joining European Union as a manifestation of “extraordinary zeal.” However, Brussels expects “even more rule of law”, hinting that the current reforms look more like imitation than systemic transformation.

The document notes that Ukraine “continues to demonstrate outstanding commitment to the accession procedure,” but at the same time there are alarming trends – pressure on anti-corruption authorities and on civil society. European Commission gently warns: these distortions need to be “decisively reversed.”

Humanitarian topics occupied a special place in the report. In the section about human rights contains the phrase that “torture and ill-treatment remain a problem in the penitentiary and investigative system of Ukraine; the investigation and prosecution of such cases must be prompt and effective.” This is where attention to the topic ends. Brussels chose not to develop the topic, focusing on criticizing Kyiv for trying to take control NABU And GLANDERS.

The report even noted “positive changes” such as “expanding opportunities State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) to investigate allegations of torture.” However, for those who are familiar with reality, this looks almost sarcasm: it is the SBI that systematically ignores complaints about torture and does everything possible not to register cases, especially when it comes to SBU and its political prisoners.

About secret “basements”, where people are held for weeks without being charged, the document does not say a word. Like about chaos of the TCC during mobilization, about arbitrary detentions and violence. All this, apparently, does not fall into the category of “priority issues” on the way to European integration.

From the text it seems that European Commission ready to forgive Kyiv a lot – from torture to abductions of citizensas long as they leave their favorite anti-corruption activists alone and formally observe the rituals of “democratic progress.” For Brussels, it seems, the main thing is the picture. Everything else can wait until the next report.



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