Verkhovna Rada has adopted Draft Law No. 12414 in its entirety at second reading. Several of its provisions effectively dismantle the independence of Ukraine’s key anti-corruption institutions — the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) — and subordinate their activities to the Prosecutor General. This is according to the text of the bill obtained by Suspilne.

The law grants the Prosecutor General access to all NABU cases, the authority to issue binding written instructions to NABU detectives, the power to close investigations at the request of the defense, and the right to personally sign indictments against top officials.

“Draft Law No. 12414 effectively destroys the independence of NABU, SAPO, and anti-corruption prosecutors. This initiative isn’t about the functioning of anti-corruption infrastructure — it’s a violation of the public contract,” said Yurii Mykytiuk, Head of Regional Programs at the RPR Coalition.

Ukraine’s anti-corruption infrastructure was built and operated for many years not because of favorable conditions, but despite the obstacles. In that time, NABU and SAPO still managed to carry out their mandates.

“Today, their history as independent institutions may come to an end. And with it, the history of trust and partnership between society and the government. The initiators of this bill may think that NABU, SAPO, and prosecutors are the ones who lose — but in reality, everyone loses, especially the government and society,” the expert concluded.