On July 31, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a presidential bill that would restore independence to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP). The decision was the result of ten days of large-scale protests in major cities across the country in support of the anti-corruption agencies.
NABU Director Semen Kryvonos confirmed in a comment to Channel 24 that the increased attention to the Bureau is related to the start of investigations into several high-ranking officials. He did not disclose specific cases, but noted the significant results of NABU's work over the past six months - in particular, the investigation against Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov, the exposure of criminal organizations, and cases in the defense sector.
According to Kryvonos, NABU's activity in the fight against top corruption has caused a certain crisis, in particular due to the investigation into representatives of the President's Office. This concerns the "Clean City" operation in the Kyiv City Council and the case against the former deputy head of the Office of the President, Rostyslav Shurma, which is already being prepared for trial.
The NABU Director thanked the society for its active support for the independence of anti-corruption bodies and assured that NABU and SAPO currently have all the necessary tools for effective work.
