The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has signed a new law aimed at restoring the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP). The document was approved by the Verkhovna Rada on July 31 and signed by the head of state on the same day.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Public and Partner Reactions
The legislative changes were a response to mass protests that took place in Kyiv and other cities following the signing of the previous law No. 12414, which experts estimated limited the independence of anti-corruption agencies. After public outcry and concerns from international partners, Zelensky submitted a new draft law to parliament aimed at strengthening the powers of NABU and SAP.
“These are guarantees for the normal, independent operation of anti-corruption agencies and all law enforcement bodies of our state. The decision is correct… It is very important that the state listens to public opinion. Ukraine is a democracy – there are definitely no doubts about that. Government officials will also promptly inform Ukraine’s partners about this law.”
NABU’s Position and Assessment of the New Law
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine supported the new draft law No. 13533 submitted by the president. According to the anti-corruption agencies, the document fully restores the procedural powers and guarantees the independence of NABU and SAP, which is an important step in the development of the anti-corruption system in Ukraine.
Previously, after the adoption of law No. 12414, NABU Director Semen Kryvonos called on the president to veto this draft law due to risks to the agency’s independence. However, only after a wave of protests and public reaction was a new, revised draft law developed, which has now received positive feedback from relevant agencies.