Heads of NABU and SAPO urged Zelensky not to sign the law on the destruction of their independence
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The heads of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office appealed to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy not to sign the bill, which, in their opinion, destroys the independence of these bodies.
This is reported by Suspulne.
During a briefing on July 22, NABU Director Semen Kryvonos and SAPO Head Oleksandr Klymenko emphasized that after the vote in the Verkhovna Rada, the anti-corruption infrastructure has actually lost its independence, and the adoption of changes threatens the effectiveness of the entire anti-corruption system.
“The anti-corruption infrastructure was destroyed. What was created as a response to the request of Euromaidan and society was destroyed today. In particular, those deputies against whom criminal proceedings were opened voted for this. They acted in conditions of a direct conflict of interest,” said Semen Kryvonos.
According to the NABU director, the vote was “direct confirmation” that the Bureau is working effectively, even if individual politicians are trying to destroy it. Although the document does not legally eliminate NABU, it “radically limits” its effectiveness and ability to work independently.
In his statement, Kryvonos cited examples of high-profile cases the Bureau has worked on, including Clean City and major defense revelations. “We continue to work. We have a lot of experience. We act independently and must maintain this independence,” he stressed.
The heads of the NABU and SAPO also reported that they are constantly communicating with international partners — including the IMF and embassies of other countries — and have already informed them about the situation. They emphasized that it is the anti-corruption agencies that are responsible for investigating cases of misuse of international aid — and foreign governments rely on their impartiality.
“We knew something was brewing. We view the recent actions, including the searches, as part of a broader scenario,” Kryvonos said, alluding to the pressure being exerted on anti-corruption institutions from within the country.
Head of the SAPO Oleksandr Klymenko added that he had already met with the newly appointed Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko. According to him, “the conversation was constructive,” and Kravchenko assured that there was no threat from the SBU.
At the same time, Kryvonos commented on the recent searches at NABU conducted by the SBU in the case of alleged cooperation between detectives and Russian special services. According to him, the SBU acted based on the fact of family ties with the temporarily occupied territories.
“But I want to remind you: when we hire a person, it is the SBU that checks him for access to state secrets. If the facts of cooperation of individual employees with the enemy are confirmed, we will act accordingly. However, we do not need to destroy the entire institution,” the NABU director emphasized.
Kryvonos and Klymenko also stated that if President Zelenskyy still signs Bill No. 12414, they will continue to work within the new rules. At the same time, both leaders emphasized that these changes completely deprive NABU and SAPO of their independence — both in conducting investigations and in the procedural management of cases.
As a reminder, on Tuesday, July 22, the Verkhovna Rada voted for a bill that significantly limits the powers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP), effectively subordinating their activities to the Prosecutor General.
As reported, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office have published an official statement regarding draft law No. 12414, which is being prepared for the second reading in the Verkhovna Rada. The anti-corruption bodies warn that the latest amendments to the document pose a serious threat to the independence of their activities.
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