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Bipartisan US Senators Voice Concern Over Law Limiting Independence of Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Bodies
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![Photo of Maryna Kulakova]( "Photo of Maryna Kulakova")
Senators Jeanne Shaheen of the Democratic Party and Lindsey Graham of the Republican Party expressed concern that a recently passed law in Ukraine, which makes the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) dependent on the Prosecutor General, undermines much of the progress made in the country’s fight against corruption.
In a joint statement on July 24, Shaheen and Graham highlighted the significant progress Ukraine has made in combating corruption since the Revolution of Dignity .
“The Verkhovna Rada’s recent passage of a law, signed by President Zelenskyy, we fear undermines much of that progress and goes against Ukraine’s tremendous fighting spirit as well as the expectations of Ukraine’s citizenry and the international community,” they said.
The senators pointed out that one of the most common arguments for halting support for Ukraine is the perception that it is overwhelmed by corruption.
“There continues to be significant bipartisan support for Ukraine and agreement that it is in Ukraine’s interest—and our own—to meet the expectations of its citizenry and ensure that governance structures guarantee Ukraine’s economic prosperity and future US investments,” Shaheen and Graham urged.
On July 22, the Ukrainian Parliament passed Bill 12414, which President Zelenskyy subsequently signed into law. The bill grants new powers to the Prosecutor General, including the authority to override, reassign, or even close cases handled by the NABU and SAP. Later that day, Ukrainians took to the streets in protest against the law, voicing their concerns about any limitations on the independence of these institutions.
On July 23, President Zelenskyy met with the heads of all law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies, along with the Prosecutor General. He announced that a new bill would be introduced in Parliament to ensure the full independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies. NABU and SAP have expressed their readiness to engage in discussions and contribute to the preparation of President Zelenskyy’s proposed bill.
Chief of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, released a statement: “We have one common trouble, one enemy. So internal disagreements should be resolved through open dialogue in order to achieve one united goal—to defend our country.”
