Bill to restore independence of Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies includes polygraphs for staff with family in Russia, Zelensky says
The bill intended to restore the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies includes a provision requiring polygraph tests every two years for employees with relatives in Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a meeting with journalists on July 24, according to Hromadske, Suspilne, and RBK-Ukraine.
The legislation, submitted to the Verkhovna Rada by Zelensky on July 24, is aimed at reestablishing the independence of two key institutions: the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). On July 22, the Rada passed — and Zelensky signed — a law that effectively placed both agencies under the authority of the Prosecutor General’s Office.
According to Zelensky, the new bill includes safeguards intended to protect Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies from Russian influence.
Following the adoption of the law curbing NABU and SAPO’s independence, residents of Kyiv, Odesa, Lviv, Kharkiv, and other Ukrainian cities held protests for two consecutive days, calling on the president to veto the legislation. Zelensky said the message from the public had been heard.
“It’s very important that society speaks up. I respect the public’s opinion. I believe it’s absolutely normal to respond when people don’t want something, when they’re unhappy with it. People said: everything must be done according to the law. It was very important to me that we responded appropriately,” Zelensky said.
