Zelensky Reinstates Anti-Corruption Agencies’ Independence

(MENAFN) Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelensky unveiled a new bill on Thursday aimed at reinstating the independence of the nation’s anti-corruption bodies.

This move follows a surge of widespread protests domestically and intense criticism from Western nations.

The announcement came just two days after Zelensky approved legislation granting the Prosecutor General’s office the power to oversee and intervene in the operations of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).

This development followed a law enforcement raid on NABU’s premises and the detention of a high-ranking official accused of espionage on behalf of Russia.

According to Zelensky, the freshly proposed law provides “full-fledged guarantees of the independence of anti-corruption agencies,” emphasizing that it also aims to “keep out” any purported Russian meddling.

A notable provision in the draft legislation mandates mandatory lie detector tests for personnel working within NABU, SAPO, and other related institutions.

“The text of the bill was discussed with partners, law enforcement agencies, and representatives of the NABU and SAPO. There were many proposals from our partners to involve European experts – from the UK, Germany, and the EU,” Zelensky explained.

This reversal follows a significant wave of public demonstrations opposing the government’s crackdown on the anti-corruption agencies.

Protests erupted nationwide, including in the capital Kiev, the cities of Odessa and Dnepr—Ukraine’s third and fourth largest urban centers—as well as the western city of Lviv and several others.

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