Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced he has finalized the text of a new draft law aimed at strengthening the independence of anti-corruption bodies. He plans to submit the bill to the Verkhovna Rada today, July 24.
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"I have just approved the text of the draft law that guarantees real strengthening of the law enforcement system in Ukraine and the independence of anti-corruption bodies, as well as reliable protection of the law enforcement system from any Russian influence or interference. The text is balanced," Ukrainian Pravda quoted Zelensky as saying.
According to the president, this draft law includes "real tools, no Russian connections, and ensures the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO)".
"It is important that we maintain unity. It is important that we preserve independence. It is important that we respect the position of all Ukrainians and are grateful to everyone who stands with Ukraine," Zelensky noted.
Two days prior, on July 22, Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law passed by the Verkhovna Rada that effectively stripped the NABU and SAPO of their independence, placing them under the Prosecutor General's Office.
The adoption of the law was met with protests. For the first time since the start of the full-scale war, mass anti-government demonstrations took place in Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, Odesa, and other cities.
Ukraine also faced criticism from its European partners. Marta Kos, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, described the dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU’s independence as a “serious step back” for Ukraine’s path to EU membership.
“Dear Ukrainian friends, Lithuania wishes you well. That’s why we encourage you not to stick to this big mistake that could derail your country from the path of progress. Independence of anti-corruption bodies is essential. The point is not in the details and nuances, but in the very principle of independence from politicians, which is either there or it is not," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys appealed to Ukrainians.
Zelensky has pledged to submit a new bill to parliament that would ensure the "strength of the rule of law system" and preserve "all norms for the independence of anti-corruption institutions."
