The Ukrainian parliament has passed amendments to the law that critics say will effectively destroy the independence of Ukraine's two most important anti-corruption institutions, writes KyivIndependent.

The law gives new powers to the prosecutor's office, bypassing the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the National Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). According to the bill, the prosecutor's office would be able to instruct the previously independent NABU and SAPO.

According to the head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, the changes would essentially abolish the independence of these institutions and subordinate them to the Prosecutor General. “They will destroy Ukraine’s anti-corruption infrastructure, which we built after 2015 [the Euromaidan revolution],” the statement said.

The bill was supported by 263 deputies, voted against by 13, and abstained by 13. The bill still needs to be signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has the right to veto it, but critics say the bill is aimed precisely at preventing independent investigations into Zelensky's entourage.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau recently officially charged Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Chernyshov in a high-profile illegal land acquisition case. Chernyshov is considered a close ally of Zelensky.

On July 21, several law enforcement agencies conducted extensive searches at the headquarters of NABU and SAPO. Fifteen NABU employees are currently under investigation for various reasons.

Strong criticism from everywhere

The bill was sharply criticized by many figures of Ukrainian civil society and public life, known abroad, including the largest Ukrainian newspapers. Here, for example, a famous Ukrainian journalist speaks of “shame” and that this (i.e. the destruction of anti-corruption bodies) “will not happen”:

The EU also does not like the Zelensky government's crackdown on anti-corruption institutions and organizations.

“The European Union is concerned by Ukraine’s recent actions regarding the anti-corruption institutions, NABU and SAPO. These institutions are key to Ukraine’s reform agenda and must operate independently to fight corruption and maintain public trust,” a European Commission spokesperson was quoted as saying by the Kyiv Independent. Guillaume Mercier said:

“The EU is providing significant financial support to Ukraine, conditional on progress in transparency, judicial reform and democratic governance.”