Zelensky ends independence of anti-graft bodies
The Verkhovna Rada on Tuesday approved legislation placing the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) under executive oversight. Lawmakers opposing the bill reportedly shouted 'shame!' as the results were read out.
Later in the day, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky signed the bill into law. The vote came just a day after the country's domestic security service raided the NABU's headquarters, arresting two investigators. The raids elicited concern from G7 ambassadors, who said they were monitoring the situation.
Anti-corruption activists called the timing deliberate. 'This is about silencing NABU and SAPO as they close in on Zelensky's inner circle,' the NGO Anti-Corruption Action Center stated.
The legislation was introduced by lawmakers from Zelensky's ruling party and was initially aimed at changing Ukraine's criminal code under martial law before last-minute amendments targeting anti-corruption bodies were added.
MP Anastasia Radina warned the changes would 'effectively dismantle' anti-graft infrastructure, turning the NABU and SAPO into 'purely decorative institutions … completely dependent on the will of the prosecutor-general.'
The agencies were created in 2015 as part of a Western-backed push to ensure prosecutorial independence – a key condition for Ukraine's EU bid and international lending. The NABU received significant technical and equipment support from the US, UK, and EU.
European Commissioner Marta Kos condemned the 'dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU's independence as a serious step back' in the country's reform trajectory, saying the rule of law remains central to Ukraine's EU bid.
European Commission spokesman Guillaume Mercier called the agencies 'crucial' for fighting corruption and maintaining public trust. He stressed that Ukraine's accession would require 'strong institutional resilience,' and noted that EU aid remains tied to reforms. Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko dismissed the backlash, calling corruption concerns 'overemphasized,' and signaled Kiev would seek more IMF support.
Brussels has long viewed corruption as a key obstacle to Kiev's EU ambitions. Ukraine's reputation for endemic graft has deepened since the conflict with Russia escalated in 2022. The defense sector has been hit by procurement scandals, while donors have pushed for greater transparency.
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