UNIC Calls for Support of Draft Laws to Restore the Independence of NABU and SAPO

The Ukrainian Network of Integrity and Compliance urges parliament to safeguard anti-corruption institutions in line with EU and OECD commitments

The Ukrainian Network of Integrity and Compliance (UNIC) calls on members of parliament to urgently consider legislative initiatives aimed at restoring effective guarantees of independence for the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).

These draft laws are critical for fulfilling Ukraine’s commitments to the European Union (EU) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), for maintaining the trust of international partners, and for protecting the country’s anti-corruption infrastructure as a cornerstone of the rule of law.

UNIC has joined the statement of RISE Ukraine and leading business associations condemning the de facto restriction of institutional autonomy of NABU and SAPO. The full text of the statement is available here.

Law No. 4555-IX, signed by the president on July 22, grants the prosecutor general powers to interfere in top-level corruption investigations, effectively subordinating anti-corruption institutions to a non-reformed prosecutorial system.

This has already resulted in:
– the undermining of SAPO’s procedural independence and risks of case closures by the prosecutor general;
– loss of efficiency and trust in investigations due to mandatory approvals of suspicions and binding instructions from the prosecution;
– limitations on NABU’s jurisdiction, allowing cases to be transferred to other bodies.

Such changes are inconsistent with international standards, including recommendations of the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) and the OECD. They jeopardize the opening of the EU negotiation cluster on the rule of law and Ukraine’s participation in the OECD Working Group on Bribery. The OECD has already expressed its “deep concern” regarding the situation with NABU and SAPO.

Another urgent step to preserve institutional capacity is the appointment of the head of the Bureau of Economic Security (BES). The long-standing vacancy in this position undermines the state’s ability to combat economic crimes, erodes business trust, and slows down the reform process.

UNIC urges parliament and the president to continue moving decisively toward restoring the independence of anti-corruption institutions and completing the reboot of BES — as a clear signal of Ukraine’s unwavering commitment to the European course.