The official newspaper of the Verkhovna Rada, Holos Ukrainy, has published Law No. 4555-IX, “On the Introduction of Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine Regarding the Specifics of Pre-Trial Investigations into Criminal Offenses Related to the Disappearance of Persons Under Special Circumstances During Martial Law.”
That is according to the newspaper’s official website, Ukrinform reports.
According to the text of the law, it comes into force on the day following its official publication.
On July 22, the Verkhovna Rada passed legislation that reduces the powers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).
Specifically, it refers to Bill No. 12414, which introduces amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code concerning the peculiarities of investigating criminal offenses related to persons who went missing under extraordinary circumstances during martial law. Several amendments were made to the bill prior to its adoption.
Following its passage, NABU Director Semen Kryvonos urged President Volodymyr Zelensky not to sign the bill, warning that “two independent institutions — NABU and SAPO — are now being placed under full control.”
Nevertheless, Zelensky signed the law, which outlines special procedures for investigating cases of missing persons under martial law — but also reduces the authority and effectively strips NABU and SAPO of their independence.
In response, MPs initiated the collection of signatures to submit a constitutional appeal to the Constitutional Court of Ukraine challenging the law that curtails the powers of NABU and SAPO.
Photo: NABU
