EU flags concerns over state pressure on NABU
European Commission HQ (Photo: REUTERS/Yves Herman)
Some elements of Ukraine’s law enforcement ecosystem and political establishment are trying to undermine the country’s anti-corruption efforts despite significant recent progress, the European Commission said in a report published on Nov. 4.
The document, cited by Ukrainska Pravda, specifically points to the creation of a temporary parliamentary commission to investigate corruption allegations, chaired by lawmakers Serhiy Vlasenko and Maksym Buzhansky. The EU noted this initiative may interfere with the work of independent anti-corruption agencies.
“It is important that parliamentary oversight does not undermine public confidence in anticorruption institutions through unfounded public statements or exceed the limits set by the principle of separation of powers,” the European Commission said.
The report also highlights a pattern of criminal prosecutions of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) detectives by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI), which the EU says has taken on a systemic character. Although legislation passed in July to curb NABU’s independence was quickly repealed, “excessive pressure on anticorruption bodies remains a source of concern,” the commission added.
Despite these warnings, the report does not describe the government’s actions as a rollback of reforms. It notes that after the Ukrainian public and international partners expressed serious concerns, the independence of NABU and the Specialized Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) was quickly restored. A source familiar with the matter told Ukrainska Pravda that this swift response impressed EU officials.
The commission also praised NABU and SAPO for delivering tangible results, saying Ukraine’s fight against corruption is advancing both in form and in practice.
Will you support Ukraine’s free press?
Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations.
As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility – to amplify Ukraine’s voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation.
It’s the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine.
If you’re willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.
Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda.
Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd.
If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly.
There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting.
We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If you’re willing to stand up for the truth – consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much.
Will you help tell Ukraine’s story to the world?
Twenty years ago, most people hadn’t even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyone’s lips and everyone’s headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of – from music and culture to technology.
We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If you’re willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
