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Zelenskyy’s anti-corruption bill gets backing in Ukrainian parliament committee

Zelenskyy’s anti-corruption bill gets backing in Ukrainian parliament committee Photo: The Rada committee supported the president's bill on NABU and SAPO (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Author: Liliana Oleniak

The Ukrainian Parliament's Law Enforcement Committee supported Presidential Bill No. 13533. The document restores the powers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), according to MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak.

The Committee on Law Enforcement supported draft law No. 13533 in principle and as a whole, without any changes to the text.

The decision was unanimous, with all 19 members of the committee supporting the document.

As Zhelezniak notes, tomorrow, July 31, the Rada will vote on the bill in two readings at once. According to the parliamentarian, there will be enough votes to pass the decision.

Restrictions on powers of NABU and SAPO

Last week, the Verkhovna Rada adopted bill No. 12414, which restricts the independence of NABU and SAPO. Their powers were partially transferred to the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promptly signed bill No. 12414.

This decision sparked a wave of public discontent. Thousands of people took to the streets in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities to protest.

A few days later, Volodymyr Zelenskyy submitted bill No. 13533 to the Rada with provisions on the independence of NABU and SAPO. People's deputies submitted six alternatives to Zelenskyy's bill.

According to the text of the presidential bill, the SAPO's subordination to the Prosecutor General is abolished. Other provisions include limiting the Prosecutor General's influence on the NABU, institutional independence of the SAPO, and simplification of the procedure for appointing prosecutors.