'A serious step back': EU commissioner slams Ukraine's move to weaken anti-corruption agency
Photo: Martha Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement (Getty Images)
The European Commission believes that the decision of Ukrainian MPs to adopt a law to reduce the powers of the NABU and the SAPO is a serious step back, according to European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos.
"Seriously concerned over today’s vote in the Rada. The dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU’s independence is a serious step back," Marta Kos wrote.
Kos reminded that independent bodies such as NABU and SAPO are essential for Ukraine's path to the EU. At the same time, the rule of law remains at the center of the EU accession negotiations.
Controversial law on NABU
Today, July 22, the Verkhovna Rada passed draft law No. 12414, which proposes a significant reduction in the powers of NABU (National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine) and SAPO (Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office).
In particular, the Prosecutor General will now gain access to all NABU cases. The Prosecutor General will also have the authority to issue mandatory instructions to NABU detectives and change case jurisdiction.
At the same time, the head of SAPO will be stripped of the right to be part of the group of prosecutors on a case.
Lawmakers backed the initiative after the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) conducted searches at NABU on July 21. Following the searches, law enforcement officers detained a member of NABU’s elite secret unit D-2.
