Zelensky: new NABU/SAPO bill aims to preserve unity and shield agencies from Russian influence
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the decision to submit a new draft law on NABU (National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine) and SAPO (Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office) to the Verkhovna Rada was driven by the need to preserve national unity during wartime.
He made this comment during a press interaction with journalists on July 24, according to a Ukrinform correspondent.
In response to a question about what motivated the introduction of the new draft law, Zelensky said: “We must listen to the people — I believe that’s the most important thing. Because the main challenge is the war. And the most important thing during this war is national unity. It is crucial not to lose that unity: to listen, to maintain dialogue.”
At the same time, he stressed that Ukraine must have truly independent anti-corruption institutions.
“But they must also reflect society’s demand for justice. They must act effectively and monitor what is happening within their own structures. If some amendments introduced by lawmakers create a risk to the independence of anti-corruption bodies, then those risks must be eliminated,” Zelensky stated.
He assured that under the new draft law, anti-corruption institutions would not be subordinate to the Prosecutor General.
The President also highlighted that the draft law he submitted includes new provisions to protect anti-corruption institutions from Russian influence.
“There are new provisions in this bill aimed at protecting against the influence of the Russian Federation, especially in light of certain incidents involving NABU personnel. Specifically, it proposes that all employees of anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies — including the National Police and the State Bureau of Investigations — who have relatives in Russia or with Russian citizenship, be required to undergo lie detector testing every two years. All law enforcement officers and anti-corruption workers should be held to the same standard,” Zelensky noted.
He emphasized: “The most important thing right now is that the draft law has been registered. I believe that Parliament will vote for it. I want that to happen.”
As previously reported by Ukrinform, on July 24, President Zelensky submitted a draft law to the Verkhovna Rada that includes provisions to safeguard the independence of SAPO and NABU.
Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine