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Zelenskyy submitted a draft law on NABU and SAPO to the Rada: what the document says

UNIAN

Ukraine

Thursday, July 24


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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy submitted a draft law containing provisions on the independence of the anti-corruption bodies NABU and SAPO to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. On Council website It is reported that the draft law was sent for consideration to the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Law Enforcement Activities.

In particular, the document states that the internal control unit of the NABU, SAPO, BEB, the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine, and the National Police - according to the methodology agreed with the Security Service of Ukraine - will have to conduct polygraph examinations of employees of these bodies at least once every two years to determine whether they have committed actions in favor of Russia.

The document also states that, within 6 months from the date of entry into force of the Law (after the vote), the SBU will have to conduct an inspection of employees of the above-mentioned departments for actions in favor of the aggressor state.

In addition, the bill introduced by Zelenskyy refers to the need to strengthen the search and extradition of persons who evade pre-trial investigation, trial, or serving a sentence in Ukraine. As well as to strengthen the work to identify, search for, and return from foreign countries assets obtained in our country by criminal means.

According to Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk, the document will be considered at the next plenary session.

The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau supported the presidential bill."Submitted by the President of Ukraine as urgent, it restores all procedural powers and guarantees of independence of the NABU and the SAPO," the SAPO press service said in a statement. Telegram .

What else is in the bill?

The explanatory note notes that the draft law establishes for the SAPO the status of a body that provides procedural guidance in the investigation of crimes that are under the jurisdiction of the NABU.

These cases cannot be transferred to other law enforcement agencies, except in cases where there are"objective circumstances" that make it impossible for the bureau to operate or conduct an investigation during martial law. Under such conditions, the decision to transfer cases is made by the head of the SAPO or the Prosecutor General.

It is noted that NABU detectives are obliged to carry out only the instructions of the SAPO prosecutor, which are provided in writing. It is also envisaged that the head of the SAPO may request an extension of the pre-trial investigation period for a year.

The situation with the SAPO and NABU - what is known

As UNIAN reported, on July 22, the Verkhovna Rada voted for the law, which sparked protests in Kyiv and a number of cities. This is a legislative initiative that grants certain powers to the Prosecutor General's Office regarding the work of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP).

After protests and a stormy international reaction, President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the preparation of a draft law"which will strengthen the law and order system and guarantee the independence and effectiveness of the anti-corruption infrastructure."

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