Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has submitted a bill that formally establishes the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) as an independent body that exercises its own procedural oversight over investigations, and introduces mechanisms to prevent foreign intelligence agencies from conducting subversive activities targeting anti-corruption officials.
That is according to the text of Bill No. 13533, published on the website of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukrinform reports.
According to the explanatory note, the wording of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine adopted by parliament on July 22 poses potential risks to the effective functioning of Ukraine’s anti-corruption infrastructure, particularly concerning the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and SAPO.
The purpose of the bill is to strengthen the institutional independence of NABU and SAPO and to ensure robust protection of their activities from interference and influence by the aggressor state.
The bill reinforces the status of SAPO as an entity that independently oversees the procedural aspects of criminal investigations falling under NABU’s jurisdiction.
Additionally, the legislative initiative introduces a mechanism to prevent subversive or intelligence operations by foreign special services targeting anti-corruption personnel. It proposes new preventive and counterintelligence measures to shield anti-corruption bodies from potential influence by hostile foreign actors.
Both NABU and SAPO have expressed support for the bill, stating that it restores all guarantees of independence for both institutions.
“Bill No. 13533, submitted by the President of Ukraine as urgent, restores all procedural powers and guarantees the independence of NABU and SAPO,” the agencies said in a joint statement.
They emphasized that they were involved in drafting the bill and urged the Verkhovna Rada to adopt the president’s initiative as soon as possible, both in the first reading and as a whole.
“This will help prevent threats to the criminal proceedings currently being investigated by NABU and SAPO,” the anti-corruption agencies said.
Illustrative photo: Ruslan Stefanchuk / Facebook
Source: Zelensky submits bill on SAPO, NABU independence to parliament
