Head of Ukraine’s anti-corruption office blasts Zelensky over new law undermining its independence

08/01/2025 / By Ramon Tomey

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed legislation removing the independence of Ukraine’s top anti-corruption agencies – the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) – placing them under executive control. This sparked protests and international backlash.
The EU and U.S. cautioned that undermining anti-corruption reforms could threaten Ukraine’s financial aid and EU membership prospects. Brussels suspended aid in response, reflecting growing distrust.
SAPO head Oleksandr Klymenko stated that the law halted his office’s work, scared off whistleblowers and led to warrantless raids on NABU investigators. High-profile probes (e.g., against Deputy PM Oleksiy Chernyshov and 31 sitting lawmakers) were compromised.
After the outcry, Zelensky proposed a bill to restore SAPO/NABU independence, but its passage is uncertain due to fears of retaliation among his own party members in parliament.
Critics see Zelensky’s move as an authoritarian power grab, exacerbating fractures in his government and risking Ukraine’s democratic institutions. Restoring trust in anti-corruption efforts is critical for Ukraine’s wartime stability and post-war recovery.

Oleksandr Klymenko, the head of Ukraine’s Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), has slammed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over a law he signed that dismantled the office’s independence.

Late last month, the comedian-turned-president approved a law that put both the SAPO and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) under executive control. This legislation, which effectively ended the two agencies’ autonomy, triggered immediate protests in Kyiv, Lviv and other cities.

Western governments, including the European Union and the U.S., warned that undermining anti-corruption reforms could jeopardize Ukraine’s financial aid and EU accession prospects. While Zelensky reversed course following outcry, Klymenko warned that the damage may have already been done. (Related: Zelensky dismantles independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies, sparking outrage and EU membership concerns.)

During an interview published in the Financial Times (FT) Wednesday, July 31, Klymenko pointed out that “lasting” damage had already been done. Because of the new law, Klymenko noted that his office’s function could be severely affected.

“Our work has been effectively stopped,” he told the publication, adding that whistleblowers have stopped cooperating out of fear of exposure. NABU investigators now face persecution, with some of them becoming “confused and frightened” after security services raided their homes without warrants.

Ukraine’s corruption probes now in political crossfire

Zelensky later made a U-turn, introducing a new bill to restore the independence of both NABU and SAPO. However, it remains uncertain whether the proposal will pass. According to FT, at least 70 People’s Deputies (PDs) from Zelensky’s Servant of the People (SN) party unsure of whether they will join others in voting for the bill over fears of retaliation.

Klymenko nevertheless reiterated the impact of the initial bill, especially since his office was investigating high-ranking officials such as Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov. The SAPO had also been probing 31 sitting PDs, including some from SN, over corruption claims.

The two agencies, which were created after Ukraine’s 2014 revolution to counter graft, have long relied on Western backing to resist political interference. Klymenko credited past support from Washington for their survival, but noted that waning pressure “is part of why this attack was possible.” Brussels has since suspended aid to Ukraine, an unprecedented move reflecting deepening mistrust.

Zelensky claims he acted to protect the agencies from Kremlin infiltration, though Klymenko insisted there’s “insufficient evidence” to support those allegations. Critics see it as an authoritarian power grab, one that threatens Ukraine’s fragile democratic institutions at a time when Western patience is wearing thin.

Though the Verkhovna Rada – Ukraine’s parliament – may soon vote to reverse the decision, the episode has exposed severe fractures within Zelensky’s government. It remains uncertain whether trust in Ukraine’s anti-corruption fight can be restored. But without it, the country’s wartime resilience and post-war future hang in the balance.

Watch journalist John Varoli revealing that Ukraine is one of the world’s most brutal totalitarian regimes in this video.

This video is from the Cynthia’s Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.