On 24 July, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky introduced a bill into the Verkhovna Rada to restore independence for the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). This was in response to a wave of public outcry and Western ally criticism caused by an earlier signed law that effectively took away the autonomy of anti-corruption agencies.
Earlier, on 22 July, the Verkhovna Rada passed and Zelensky signed a law in practice subordinating NABU and SAPO to the office of the Prosecutor General. The decision drew a severe response from the country and even from abroad. The mass protests were held in Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Kharkiv and other cities in Ukraine. The protesters maintained that independence in the anti-corruption system was ensured because the new legislation was seen as a retreat in the fight against corruption.
The European Union was particularly concerned. Against the backdrop of this ongoing war with Russia and ambitions to join the EU, the safeguarding and strengthening of the rule of law, with the activity of anti-corruption institutions among them, is one of the key requests from Brussels.
Under public pressure, Zelensky promised on the evening of 23 July to introduce a fresh bill that would ‘boost the autonomy of anti-corruption agencies’ and ‘respond to public reaction.’ On the morning of 24 July, a parliamentary bill signed by 48 MPs from different factions was registered in parliament. Almost simultaneously, Zelensky submitted his own presidential version of the document. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine welcomed the new bill, noting that it ‘restores all procedural powers and guarantees of independence of the NABU and the SAPO.’ The NABU emphasised that it had participated in the development of the document.
It is noteworthy that the new version of the law provides for additional measures to protect anti-corruption structures from possible influence from Russia. In particular, according to Zelensky, employees with relatives in the Russian Federation will be required to undergo a lie detector test every two years.
It is noteworthy that the new version of the law provides for additional measures to protect anti-corruption structures from possible influence from Russia. In particular, according to Zelensky, employees with relatives in the Russian Federation will be required to undergo a lie detector test every two years.
