Catastrophic Consequences: Radina Urges Deputies to Protect NABU and SAP Integrity
The potential adoption of the proposed amendments to Bill No. 12414 poses a serious threat to Ukraine’s anti-corruption system and the country’s democratic development. Anastasia Radina, Head of the Anti-Corruption Committee in Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada, strongly appeals to parliamentarians to oppose this bill in its second reading, warning that its current modifications could completely dismantle the independence of crucial institutions such as the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office. In her Facebook post, Radina pointed out that recent amendments aim to turn SAP into a decorative body, devoid of real authority and directly subordinate to the Prosecutor General. This move would make the functioning of these agencies completely dependent on a single individual’s will, undermining their effectiveness and objectivity in the fight against corruption. Furthermore, she emphasized that the bill grants the Prosecutor General sweeping powers: to act as de facto leader of SAP, delegate responsibilities to other prosecutors, issue binding written instructions to NABU, and demand any case materials. Such provisions threaten to strip these agencies of independence and establish control mechanisms that could severely weaken anti-corruption efforts. Radina also remarked on the ironic timing of the bill’s registration on January 16, 2025, drawing a parallel with the infamous “January 16” laws of 2014, which symbolized political manipulations aimed at undermining anti-corruption reforms. She urges her colleagues in parliament to reject these changes, warning that their support could effectively destroy Ukraine’s anti-corruption infrastructure and have devastating outcomes for the country’s democratic institutions and future. This situation underscores the urgent need to safeguard the integrity of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies and resist legislative steps that compromise their independence and effectiveness.