Ukraine’s Eurointegration Deputy Prime Minister holds talks with European counterparts on NABU and SAPO
Photo: Taras Kachka, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Taras Kachka, held his first online meeting with EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos. Among the topics discussed was Draft Law No. 12414, according to the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office.
It is noted that in addition to Kos, the meeting was attended by Gert Jan Koopman, Director-General of the European Commission’s Directorate for Enlargement and Eastern Neighborhood (DG ENEST).
A major focus of the discussion was the recently adopted Draft Law No. 12414, "On amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine regarding the specifics of pre-trial investigations of criminal offenses related to missing persons under special circumstances during martial law."
The bill concerns the work of Ukraine’s independent anti-corruption agencies – the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).
"The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized Ukraine’s commitment to fighting corruption and meeting international obligations, particularly within the framework of its EU accession process, and will continue to cooperate with partners in implementing the necessary reforms. Kachka confirmed Ukraine’s dedication to implementing the Rule of Law Transformation Roadmap," the statement said.
Earlier today, Ukraine’s parliament passed Draft Law No. 12414, granting new powers to the Prosecutor General’s Office in overseeing NABU and SAPO. A total of 263 lawmakers voted in favor.
This came shortly after a scandal involving the discovery of a Russian mole within NABU’s elite unit. On July 21, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), the State Bureau of Investigation, and the Prosecutor General’s Office conducted over 70 searches involving NABU employees.
In response, NABU stated it would fully cooperate with the investigation into one of its officers, Viktor Husarov, who is suspected of espionage. At the same time, the agency stressed that this incident should not be used to dismantle Ukraine’s anti-corruption infrastructure.
