Zelenskyy moves to secure anti-corruption agencies from political interference

What Zelenskyy said about the bill

Yesterday, the president stated that he would propose to the Verkhovna Rada a bill that would strengthen the law enforcement system.

"There will be no Russian influence or interference in the work of law enforcement bodies, and — very importantly — all the provisions ensuring the independence of anti-corruption institutions will be included," the president said.

According to him, the bill will include proposals from a group of law enforcement and anti-corruption leaders, as well as the Prosecutor General.

"This will be a presidential bill, and we will implement it as part of our national transformation strategy," Zelenskyy stated.

Later, Member of Parliament Yaroslav Zhelezniak announced that the Verkhovna Rada would convene urgently next week to review the bill on the independence of NABU and SAPO.

According to RBC-Ukraine's sources in parliament, a specific date for the review has not yet been set.

Bill on NABU and SAPO

Last Monday, the Security Service of Ukraine conducted an inspection at the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) to check compliance with state secrets legislation. Around the same time, searches were also carried out at NABU detectives' offices — officially to "neutralize Russian influence."

Then, just yesterday, the Verkhovna Rada passed Bill No. 12414, which reduces the powers of NABU and SAPO.

According to the bill:

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

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

• The head of SAPO will lose the right to be included in a group of prosecutors — that decision will be made solely by the Prosecutor General.

On the evening of July 22, Zelenskyy signed the bill into law.

Protests over the law

The adoption and signing of the law sparked significant public outcry. Prior to the bill's consideration, anti-corruption agencies had urged members of parliament not to support the document.

On the evening of Monday, July 22, Ukrainians began protesting in Kyiv and several other cities, calling for the law to be vetoed.

However, the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense stated that Russian intelligence services and propagandists are monitoring the situation around the protests against the controversial law that reduces the powers of NABU and SAPO. According to the statement, the enemy may attempt provocations.

Meanwhile, the Center for Countering Disinformation noted that Russia is already distorting the meaning of the protests. Russian propaganda is even using Photoshop and faking protest photos to create the impression that demonstrations are directed specifically against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.