Ukrainian parliament's speaker signs law stripping anti-corruption agencies of independence

Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) Ruslan Stefanchuk has signed a law amending Ukraine’s Code of Criminal Procedure. The law, which was passed at Tuesday’s session, includes provisions that will strip the anti-corruption agencies of their independence.

Source: the draft law on the parliament’s website

Details: The website states that the law has been sent to the president of Ukraine to be signed.

Background:

• On 22 July, 263 MPs in the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) voted for draft law No. 12414 at second reading, according to which the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) – which are currently independent – will become dependent on decisions made by the prosecutor general.
• The heads of NABU and SAPO have urged President Volodymyr Zelenskyy not to sign the draft law, which they say will effectively destroy the independence of these institutions.
• The G7 ambassadors have expressed concern over the investigative actions that the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has carried out against NABU.
• The European Union has also voiced concern over Ukraine’s recent moves against NABU and SAPO.

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