Zelenskyy signs law restoring Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies' powers
Photo: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (facebook.com/zelenskyy.official)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a law restoring the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO).
The document was previously signed by the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk. Thus, the law will come into force the day after its publication in the parliamentary newspaper Holos Ukrainy.
NABU and SAPO powers restored
The head of state signed his own draft law No. 13533, which restores the independence of NABU and SAPO.
The document was developed as an alternative to the controversial No. 12414, which significantly limited the powers of anti-corruption bodies and caused public outrage and criticism from international partners.
Why did scandal with anti-corruption bodies arise?
On July 22, the Rada adopted draft law No. 12414. It provided, in particular, that the Prosecutor General would have direct access to NABU cases, be able to interfere in the activities of the SAPO, change the jurisdiction of cases, and independently sign suspicions.
This decision provoked a sharp reaction both from Ukrainian society (protests in Kyiv and a number of other cities) and from Ukraine's international partners, in particular the G7 countries and the European Commission. The EU unofficially warned of a possible suspension of financial aid and called the adopted law a setback in the fight against corruption.
Zelenskyy submitted bill to guarantee independence of NABU and SAPO
On July 24, the President of Ukraine submitted to parliament bill No. 13533, which restores the powers of NABU and SAPO and guarantees their procedural independence. The document stipulates that:
- The Prosecutor General cannot interfere in NABU investigations
- The jurisdiction of cases cannot be changed without the consent of the head of the SAPO
- The independence of the SAPO in procedural decisions is established
- NABU employees with access to state secrets will undergo polygraph testing (control will be exercised not by the Security Service of Ukraine, but by the internal management of NABU).
How Verkhovna Rada voted on No. 13533
On July 31, the Verkhovna Rada passed a law restoring the powers of NABU and SAPO. 331 deputies voted in favor, with no votes against or abstentions.
326 MPs also voted for the immediate signing of the law by the president.
Public reaction
After the law on the restoration of powers was passed, participants in a peaceful rally who had gathered near the Verkhovna Rada before the parliamentary vote and followed the progress of bill No. 13533 welcomed the decision of the people's representatives to restore the independence of NABU and SAPO. They chanted that the people are the power.
Thus, the final adoption of Zelenskyy's law on NABU and SAPO is intended to restore balance in the anti-corruption system and eliminate the threats that arose after the vote on No. 12414.
For more details on how parliamentarians prepared for the vote, how the anti-corruption crisis unfolded, and what the new law means for the future of NABU and SAPO, read the analysis by RBC-Ukraine.
On the day of the vote on the presidential law, the Verkhovna Rada held an online broadcast of the session for the first time since the start of the full-scale war.
