This is reported by Kyiv24
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has published a new bill No. 13533 aimed at strengthening the independence of anti-corruption bodies – the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP). This document was submitted to the Verkhovna Rada following a wave of protests that arose in response to the signing of law No. 12414 on July 22.
Guarantees of Independence and International Expertise
According to the head of state, the new bill contains “full guarantees of independence for anti-corruption bodies” and creates real opportunities to prevent any Russian interference in their work. The document was developed in close cooperation with both domestic law enforcement and international partners, including representatives from the United Kingdom, Germany, and the European Union.
“The text of the bill was discussed with partners, law enforcement officials, and representatives of NABU and SAP. Many proposals came from our partners to involve European experts: from Britain, Germany, and the European Union. I instructed our officials to present the bill to all our partners and to engage all necessary expert resources. And, of course, it is important that Ukrainians are responding so honorably to all events. Ukraine is made up of people who care.”
NABU has already positively assessed the submitted document, noting that it restores all procedural powers and guarantees of independence for both the bureau itself and SAP. The bill is being considered by the Verkhovna Rada as urgent.
Background for the Development of the New Bill
The new document emerged after the parliament supported bill No. 12414 on July 22, which, according to the head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Anti-Corruption Policy, Anastasia Radina, could make SAP a “decorative institution” and completely subordinate the activities of NABU and SAP to the will of the Attorney General. Immediately after the adoption of this law, NABU head Semen Kryvonos called on the president to veto it, but Volodymyr Zelensky signed the document.
All this occurred against the backdrop of active investigative actions: on July 21, employees of the SBU, the State Bureau of Investigations, and the Office of the Attorney General conducted 70 searches concerning employees of the anti-corruption bureau.
The emergence of the new bill indicates the government’s readiness to consider the reaction of society and international partners and to ensure the continued independence and effectiveness of Ukraine’s anti-corruption system.