Zelenskyy on NABU and SAPO: to operate without Russian influence
Photo: Zelenskyy comments on the situation with SAPO and NABU (Getty Images)
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on the situation surrounding the controversial draft law No. 12414, which concerns the reduction of powers of NABU and SAPO. According to him, these anti-corruption agencies will continue to operate without Russian influence, according to his nighttime video address to the nation.
Zelenskyy said he had spoken with NABU Director Semen Kryvonos, SAPO Prosecutor Oleksandr Klymenko, Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, and the Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Malyuk.
He noted that they had discussed various challenges, emphasizing that the anti-corruption infrastructure would continue to operate, but without Russian influence, which must be fully eliminated. Justice, he added, should become more prevalent. Zelenskyy stressed that both NABU and SAPO would continue their work.
Zelenskyy added that the Prosecutor General of Ukraine supports ensuring the inevitability of punishment for those who break the law. He noted that the cases that have been opened must be investigated.
"For years, officials who fled Ukraine have somehow been living peacefully abroad, in very pleasant countries and without any legal consequences. This is abnormal. There is no rational explanation for why criminal proceedings involving billions are left ‘hanging’ for years," the president added.
He also emphasized that there is no explanation for why Russians can still obtain information they need.
"It’s important that it be without the Russians. It’s important that there is inevitability of punishment and that society truly sees this," he concluded.
Draft Law on NABU and SAPO
On July 23, the Verkhovna Rada passed a draft law aimed at reducing the powers of NABU and SAPO. The initiative was supported by 263 MPs.
The law stipulates that the Prosecutor General will gain access to all NABU proceedings and the authority to issue binding instructions to detectives and to change the jurisdiction of cases.
The document also includes the following provisions:
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The Prosecutor General will be authorized to close cases based on a motion from the defense;
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The Prosecutor General will be able to personally sign notices of suspicion against high-ranking officials;
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The head of SAPO will lose the right to be part of a group of prosecutors - this will be determined solely by the Prosecutor General.
In the wake of the vote in parliament, large-scale protests erupted in Kyiv. Later in the evening, reports emerged that Zelenskyy had signed the law.
