Ukraine's executive branch needs to be strong enough to ensure true justice in the face of the shared enemy, Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday after meeting with top law enforcement and anti-corruption officials.
The meeting followed Zelensky's signing of a law on 22/7 that gives the Prosecutor General, a presidential appointee, tighter control over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO).
NABU investigates high-ranking officials for corruption and then passes cases to SAPO for prosecution. These two independent anti-corruption bodies were established in 2014.
The new law sparked the first major protest in Kyiv since the war began in 2/2022, with over 1,000 participants. Large gatherings are prohibited under Ukraine's martial law.
In his address, Zelensky acknowledged that he was listening to public concerns and pledged to address the issues.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a press conference in Rome, Italy, on 10/7. Photo: AFP |
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a press conference in Rome, Italy, on 10/7. Photo: AFP
After meeting with Zelensky, NABU and SAPO criticized the new law and said “decisive legislative actions” are needed to restore their independence.
The government maintains the law will improve the effectiveness of anti-corruption agencies. Critics argue that the move consolidates Zelensky’s power and will allow the government to interfere in high-level corruption cases.
The Anti-Corruption Action Center, a non-governmental organization, said the law will render NABU and SAPO meaningless because the Prosecutor General will have the power to “terminate investigations of those close to the President.”
“This move by the Presidential Office is completely absurd and contradicts what we are fighting and striving for, which is to join the European Union (EU),” said 20-year-old student Solomiia Telishevska.
The EU called the new law a “serious setback.” Many European parliamentarians and officials have urged Ukraine to reverse the decision.
Transparency International ranked Ukraine 105th out of 180 countries in its 2024 “Corruption Perceptions Index,” up from 144th in 2013.
Huyen Le (AFP, Reuters)
