This is reported by Kyiv24
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has approved the final version of the bill aimed at strengthening law enforcement and ensuring the independence of key anti-corruption institutions – the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP). He announced this on July 24.
“I have just approved the text of the bill that guarantees real strengthening of the law enforcement system in Ukraine, the independence of anti-corruption bodies, and reliable protection of the law enforcement system from any Russian influence or interference,” he said.
Main Changes and Public Reaction
According to Zelensky, the new bill is a balanced document that provides effective mechanisms for protecting the independence of anti-corruption bodies, eliminating any Russian connections, and establishing real control instruments. The President noted that the document ensures the independence of NABU and SAP, and it will be submitted to the Verkhovna Rada for consideration today.
Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the importance of maintaining the unity and independence of Ukraine, as well as respecting the position of citizens and thanking everyone who supports the country.
Parliamentary Initiatives and Public Response
Meanwhile, a group of members of parliament registered a separate bill aimed at restoring the institutional independence of bodies conducting pre-trial investigations and procedural leadership in cases of corruption offenses. According to MP Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, this document was signed by 48 parliamentarians.
On July 22, the Verkhovna Rada supported bill No. 12414, which, according to preliminary estimates, limited the independence of NABU and SAP. It was voted for by 263 deputies. In response, NABU Director Semen Kryvonos called on the president to veto the law, as he believes it “effectively destroys” the autonomy of NABU and SAP. The parliament’s decision sparked a wave of protests: hundreds of citizens took to the streets in Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, and Odesa.
President Zelensky signed law No. 12414 but emphasized that NABU and SAP will continue their work, although they must be “cleansed of Russian influences.” The Prosecutor General, Ruslan Kravchenko, stated that these bodies are not subordinate to him and maintain their independent status.
On the eve, on July 21, over 70 searches were conducted at NABU employees by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the State Bureau of Investigations, and the Office of the Prosecutor General. The SBU reported the detention of a NABU employee on suspicion of espionage in favor of the Russian special services. He was served a notice of suspicion. At the same time, NABU noted that back in August 2023, they received information about possible risks, but later the SBU found no evidence of this employee’s involvement in espionage activities.