Zelenskyy to propose law strengthening anti-corruption bodies
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised to introduce a bill to the Verkhovna Rada to bolster the independence of anti-corruption institutions, he announced in an evening video address.
“Everyone has heard what people have been saying these days—on social media, to each other, on the streets. It’s not in vain. We’ve analyzed all concerns, all aspects of what needs to change and what must be activated,” Zelenskyy said.
The forthcoming bill will “strengthen the law enforcement system” while including “all provisions to ensure the independence of anti-corruption institutions.”
Zelenskyy also shared details of a morning meeting with representatives from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), Interior Ministry, National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP), State Bureau of Investigations (SBI), and Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko.
“It was important for me that everyone presented their arguments. It’s significant that they also expressed to each other what has been building up for a long time. I greatly value the agreement on teamwork and measures that can truly deliver a sense of inevitable punishment, and thus justice, in Ukraine,” the president said.
Background
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law on the evening of July 22 that limits the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office. According to MP Anastasiнa Radina, amendments were added that "make the SAPO a decorative institution and provide for the complete dependence of the activities of the NABU and SAPO on the will of the Prosecutor General."
Against the backdrop of this decision , thousands of people took to the streets in Kyiv to protest, chanting “Veto the law,” “Bring Europe back,” “Shame,” and “Yermak out.” Protests also took place in a number of other cities, including Lviv, Dnipro, and Odesa.
On the eve of the adoption of the law, massive searches were carried out on employees of the NABU and SAPO. The SBU and the Prosecutor General's Office announced the exposure of Russian influence on NABU. Individual employees of the Bureau are accused of treason, illegal trade with the Russian Federation, corrupt actions in the interests of oligarchs, etc. At the same time, the NABU stated that these investigative actions were carried out without court orders.
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