Zelenskyy meets with law enforcement and anti-corruption chiefs after protests

According to the President, the meeting was attended by:

• Head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Vasyl Malyuk

• Director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), Semen Kryvonos

• Head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) Oleksandr Klymenko

• Head of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) Viktor Pavlushchyk

• Director of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) Oleksii Sukhachov

• Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko

• Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko

"We really need a meeting, a frank and productive conversation that truly helps. We all have a common enemy — the Russian occupiers, and defending the Ukrainian state requires a strong law enforcement and anti-corruption system, and therefore a real sense of justice," Zelenskyy noted.

He stressed that criminal proceedings should not drag on for years without legal verdicts, and those working against Ukraine must not feel safe.

"We all hear what society is saying. We see what people expect from state institutions to ensure justice and efficiency of each institution. We discussed the necessary administrative and legislative decisions to strengthen the work of each institution, resolve existing conflicts, and remove threats," Zelenskyy added.

He also announced that another meeting to finalize the joint action plan will take place next week. The plan is expected to be prepared within two weeks to help strengthen Ukraine and protect the interests of the Ukrainian people.

Bill on NABU and SAPO

On July 23, the Ukrainian parliament passed bill No. 12414, which reduces the powers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). According to the bill:

• The Prosecutor General will have the authority to close criminal proceedings based on a motion from the defense;

• The Prosecutor General will be able to personally sign notices of suspicion against high-ranking officials;

• The head of SAPO will lose the right to be part of a group of prosecutors — this will now be decided solely by the Prosecutor General.

Following the bill’s approval, protests erupted in Kyiv and several other cities. Nevertheless, President Zelenskyy signed the bill into law on the evening of July 23.