The Verkhovna Rada has adopted a bill that significantly restricts the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). Experts note that this initiative has sparked public concern over the future functioning of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies.
Recent events have included the detention of anti-corruption detectives on charges ranging from drug trafficking to treason. Unofficial reports suggest that three of them were beaten. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian parliament passed a law restricting the independence of NABU and SAPO. This sequence of events has fueled debates on whether the detentions and the new law are coincidental, as they occurred almost simultaneously.
The expert emphasizes that the presence of real suspicions should not discredit entire institutions: infiltration by agents can happen in any law enforcement or anti-corruption agency. At the same time, the adoption of this bill is widely viewed as a politically motivated move, raising concerns both within the country and among international partners.
There are ongoing discussions in political circles about whether the president will veto the law in response to public dissatisfaction. Recently, the government has worked to elevate the profiles of various branches of power, which, according to the expert, may be an attempt to diffuse reputational risks ahead of possible elections.
The reaction of the international community, especially the G7 and NABU leadership, may also influence the law’s fate. The final decision by the president to sign or veto has yet to be made, and the matter remains under discussion among experts and politicians.
