PACE and G7 welcome law restoring independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies

The deliberative body of the Council of Europe, known as the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), has welcomed the passage of a new law that restores the independence of Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).

Founded in 1949 to promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Europe, their statement was issued on behalf of the Strasbourg-based co-rapporteurs, or designated presenters who were appointed to prepare a report on their findings: Damien Cottier and Saara-Sofia Sirén. 

European Pravda reports that Cottier and Sirén praised the swift adoption of the bill and said that “the presidential administration and the Verkhovna Rada have listened to the Ukrainian people.”

The two designated PACE appointees said that “we hope that it will provide new impetus for further strengthening the work of Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies, including the appointment of a new head of the Economic Security Bureau, which should now take place without delay.”

Ambassadors from the group of seven (G7) industrialized countries in Ukraine also welcomed the reversal that previously saw the two agencies fall under the purview of the prosecutor’s office.

“We applaud the restoration of NABU and SAPO’s independence, initiated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and swiftly adopted by the Verkhovna Rada. This is a necessary and important step to preserve unity, strengthen trust in Ukraine’s governance, and improve the business climate,” the G7 statement said.

European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also issued messages of support.

On July 31, Ukraine’s parliament passed the president’s draft law that seeks to secure genuine independence for NABU and SAPO.

Just over a week earlier, on July 22, lawmakers had adopted a controversial bill that expanded the prosecutor general’s oversight over these bodies. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed it into law, sparking protests across multiple Ukrainian cities.

The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) also responded, expressing global Ukrainian communities’ concerns over potential threats to the independence of anti-corruption institutions. 

PACE urged the government to clarify the rationale behind the previous law.

Following strong criticism from civil society and international partners, Zelenskyy promised to address the issue and subsequently submitted the new bill.