A significant legislative act has seen the nation’s key anti-corruption bodies regain their independence following an intense and crucial parliamentary vote. This pivotal decision marks a reversal of recent controversial legislation, underscoring a commitment to government transparency and robust anti-corruption efforts.
The newly enacted law specifically reinstates the autonomous status of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). Both institutions were established as pillars of the post-EuroMaidan legislative reform aimed at combating systemic graft, making their restored independence a critical development for the nation’s integrity framework.
Just last week, a contentious bill had significantly curtailed the powers of these watchdogs. This earlier legislation, pushed through by presidential allies, sparked widespread public protests and drew sharp criticism from various international partners and civil society organizations, highlighting immediate concerns about political accountability.
The widespread negative reaction prompted a swift response from the nation’s leader, who, within days, proposed a new legislative initiative designed to restore the previously dismantled independence of these crucial agencies. This rapid pivot demonstrated an acknowledgment of the profound public and international concerns.
Advocacy groups, including the prominent Anti-Corruption Action Center, vocally supported the corrective measures. They emphasized that this legislative reversal would effectively “restore the principles previously dismantled,” signaling a positive step toward strengthening the nation’s commitment to anti-corruption efforts.
European leaders had also actively appealed to the nation’s top officials, consistently stressing the indispensable role of a strong anti-corruption infrastructure. Such infrastructure is viewed as an integral component for the nation’s aspirations towards deeper integration with broader European alliances, particularly in demonstrating adherence to international oversight standards.
Marta Kos, a high-ranking European official overseeing enlargement, commended the parliamentary body’s action, stating that it “corrected last week’s damaging vote undermining NABU’s & SAPO’s independence.” Her remarks underscored the international community’s close watch on the nation’s commitment to judicial and governmental integrity.
Reflecting on the legislative process, a lawmaker from the Servant of the People group, Dmytro Kostiuk, revealed that he and his colleagues had faced pressure to support the initial, controversial bill. Meanwhile, Yaroslav Yurchyshyn from the Holos party viewed the recent vote as merely “the first step toward restoring the public’s trust in the government,” linking it to future actions like prosecuting major corruption cases and ensuring media freedom.
Another legislative figure, Oleksii Pashchenko, echoed this sentiment, calling the bill “crucial” and acknowledging that while progress is being made, significant steps remain to fully build an independent country and solidify public trust in governance.
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