Ukraine restores the independence of anti-corruption bodies

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Kiev (Ukraine) – A bill restoring the independence of anti-corruption bodies, proposed by the Ukrainian head of state, was approved a little earlier by Parliament, with a total of 331 deputies in favor, the minimum required being 226, during the
live broadcast plenary session.

After the vote, Guillaume Mercier, the spokesperson for the European Commission, stated that Parliament had “restored the essential guarantees for the independence of anti-corruption bodies.”

The previous document voted on July 22 placed the national anti-corruption agency (NABU) and the specialized anti-corruption prosecutor’s office (SAP) directly under the supervision of the Attorney General, who is appointed by the head of state.

The initiative had been described as a “serious setback” by the European Union and was heavily criticized by Ukrainian civil society, leading to the first large-scale protests in Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion in 2022.
The initiative had been described as a “serious setback” by the European Union.

Mercier emphasized that the European Commission needed to “examine the final text” of the law. Adherence to the European Union “will require ongoing efforts to ensure a strong capacity to combat corruption and uphold the rule of law,” he warned.

(August 1, 2025)