Latest news with #SemenKryvonos
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine anti-corruption chief says his agency faces 'dirty information campaign'
By Dan Peleschuk KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine's top anti-corruption investigator said on Friday that he did not expect attempts to derail his agency's work to end, despite an abrupt U-turn by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on curbing their independence that fuelled rare wartime protests. Semen Kryvonos, director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), said he was taken aback by attempts this week to curtail his agency's fight against graft but did not name those who may have been behind the legislation. "Everyone united around the idea of ruining our independence," Kryvonos told Reuters in an interview in Kyiv, referring to parliament passing the controversial measures. "This was a shock for me - how much demand had built up to destroy us." He spoke a day after Zelenskiy sought to defuse tensions by submitting legislation restoring the independence of NABU and its sister agency, the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). Thousands of protesters took part in protests in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities this week after lawmakers fast-tracked a bill granting a Zelenskiy-appointed general prosecutor power over the two bodies. The move had also threatened Kyiv's ties with the European Union and Western donors which have been a critical source of financial and military support during Russia's war in Ukraine. Kryvonos applauded Zelenskiy's reversal, but said NABU and SAPO remain a high-priority target for vested interests aiming to stymie their closely watched efforts to clean up. Parliament will consider Zelenskiy's new bill in a special session next week. But Kryvonos worries corrupt actors will step up a "dirty information campaign" already being waged against NABU on widely read anonymous Telegram channels, casting the agency as slow or ineffective. He did not identify the exact sources of resistance to his agency's work, saying only that they are "various representatives of the government, various financial groups". "Everyone who is offended by NABU and SAPO will be pushing out this message," Kryvonos said. 'SYSTEMIC WORK' AND THREATS Since Russia's February 2022 invasion, Ukraine has stepped up a campaign to eradicate the pervasive graft that has plagued its political culture for decades. Stamping out corruption is both critical to Kyiv's bid to join the EU and its effort to erase a legacy of autocracy and Russian rule. NABU and SAPO, launched with Western support after a 2014 revolution toppled a pro-Russian president, have levelled charges against lawmakers and senior government officials. In recent months, Kryvonos's agency has uncovered huge real estate schemes in the capital Kyiv and accused a then deputy prime minister of taking a $345,000 kickback. Kryvonos suggested such efforts had led to a sweeping crackdown this week that paved the way for the rollback of NABU's and SAPO's powers. Two NABU officials were arrested for suspected ties to Russia and nearly 20 other agency employees searched over lesser alleged infractions in a campaign critics said went too far. "All of this was a result of systemic work by NABU and SAPO, especially over the past half-year," he said, adding that he had also received "a huge amount" of threats. Despite winning a hard-fought victory this week, he said resistance was still widespread enough across the political landscape to pose a serious challenge. He cited the controversial law that had been supported by most of Zelenskiy's political party as well as opposition lawmakers and those associated with former pro-Russian factions. Political elites, Kryvonos said, "need to stop considering us as accept us as an important part of state institutions." Solve the daily Crossword
Reuters
6 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Ukraine anti-corruption chief says his agency faces 'dirty information campaign'
KYIV, July 25 (Reuters) - Ukraine's top anti-corruption investigator said on Friday that he did not expect attempts to derail his agency's work to end, despite an abrupt U-turn by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on curbing their independence that fuelled rare wartime protests. Semen Kryvonos, director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), said he was taken aback by attempts this week to curtail his agency's fight against graft but did not name those who may have been behind the legislation. "Everyone united around the idea of ruining our independence," Kryvonos told Reuters in an interview in Kyiv, referring to parliament passing the controversial measures. "This was a shock for me - how much demand had built up to destroy us." He spoke a day after Zelenskiy sought to defuse tensions by submitting legislation restoring the independence of NABU and its sister agency, the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). Thousands of protesters took part in protests in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities this week after lawmakers fast-tracked a bill granting a Zelenskiy-appointed general prosecutor power over the two bodies. The move had also threatened Kyiv's ties with the European Union and Western donors which have been a critical source of financial and military support during Russia's war in Ukraine. Kryvonos applauded Zelenskiy's reversal, but said NABU and SAPO remain a high-priority target for vested interests aiming to stymie their closely watched efforts to clean up. Parliament will consider Zelenskiy's new bill in a special session next week. But Kryvonos worries corrupt actors will step up a "dirty information campaign" already being waged against NABU on widely read anonymous Telegram channels, casting the agency as slow or ineffective. He did not identify the exact sources of resistance to his agency's work, saying only that they are "various representatives of the government, various financial groups". "Everyone who is offended by NABU and SAPO will be pushing out this message," Kryvonos said. Since Russia's February 2022 invasion, Ukraine has stepped up a campaign to eradicate the pervasive graft that has plagued its political culture for decades. Stamping out corruption is both critical to Kyiv's bid to join the EU and its effort to erase a legacy of autocracy and Russian rule. NABU and SAPO, launched with Western support after a 2014 revolution toppled a pro-Russian president, have levelled charges against lawmakers and senior government officials. In recent months, Kryvonos's agency has uncovered huge real estate schemes in the capital Kyiv and accused a then deputy prime minister of taking a $345,000 kickback. Kryvonos suggested such efforts had led to a sweeping crackdown this week that paved the way for the rollback of NABU's and SAPO's powers. Two NABU officials were arrested for suspected ties to Russia and nearly 20 other agency employees searched over lesser alleged infractions in a campaign critics said went too far. "All of this was a result of systemic work by NABU and SAPO, especially over the past half-year," he said, adding that he had also received "a huge amount" of threats. Despite winning a hard-fought victory this week, he said resistance was still widespread enough across the political landscape to pose a serious challenge. He cited the controversial law that had been supported by most of Zelenskiy's political party as well as opposition lawmakers and those associated with former pro-Russian factions. Political elites, Kryvonos said, "need to stop considering us as accept us as an important part of state institutions."
Telegraph
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Zelensky ‘destroys' Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies after they target his allies
Voldymyr Zelensky faced public protests on Tuesday night after parliament backed a controversial bill limiting the power of anti-corruption agencies. Thousands, including veterans, gathered close to the president's office to demand Mr Zelensky back down, amid widespread international condemnation over the proposal. The demonstrations, which have reportedly spread to Lviv and Dnipro, are the first public protests against the Ukrainian president since the Russian invasion of February 2022. Earlier in the day, cries of 'shame!' were heard in the Verkhovna Rada as MPs backed the proposal to give the prosecutor general, a position appointed directly by the president, more power over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office. The bill was pushed by the president's office and came after both agencies investigated senior Ukrainian officials, including those close to the president. Protesters on the streets of Kyiv demanded Mr Zelenksy veto the measure, despite Ukrainian politicians saying he had already signed it into law. Semen Kryvonos, the head of Nabu, urged Mr Zelensky not to approve the bill, saying it would 'destroy' the work of the two institutions. Opponents of the Ukrainian president have long raised concerns about the president centralising power under the guise of war-time necessity, and the move follows weeks of manoeuvres against pro-reform and anti-corruption activists. The protests came a day after Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) agents carried out raids on the Nabu and Sapo offices, alleging a broad range of crimes from Russian infiltration to traffic violations. Fifteen Nabu officials were placed under investigation. Nabu, which was set up with the assistance of the FBI and the EU, recently opened a criminal case against Oleksiy Chernyshov, a close ally of the president, on charges of abuse of power and illegal enrichment. He denies the charges but was dismissed in last week's government reshuffle. Brussels on Tuesday said it was 'concerned' by the draft law and pointed out that its payments to Ukraine were 'conditional on progress in transparency, judicial reform and democratic governance'. In the Ukrainian parliament, the bill passed with the support of 263 MPs, with 13 abstaining and 13 voting against. The legislation would grant Ukraine's prosecutor general, a position appointed directly by the president, more power over the two anti-corruption agencies, including the ability to reassign or redirect investigations. Oleksiy Goncharenko, an opposition MP who voted against the measure, said the bill was 'about the end of the independence of anti-corruption bodies inside Ukraine', blaming the 'personal choice of President Zelensky'. The president may have been motivated by the recent investigation of Mr Chernyshov, the former vice-president, who is 'very close' to him, Mr Goncharenko told the Telegraph. 'I'm not a supporter of President Zelensky at all, but at the same time, internationally, I've always supported his efforts. But today he made a very bad choice ... and it will definitely make Ukraine weaker.' 'Small democracies can win over bigger autocracies,' he said, referring to Russia. 'But small autocracies will sooner or later be swallowed by bigger ones.' A second measure to immediately send the legislation to the president's desk for his signature into law passed with 246 votes. Mr Goncharenko said he heard it had already been signed. Meaghan Mobbs, the daughter of US special envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellog, said: 'This decision is truly, unbelievably, mind-bogglingly stupid. It happens at the worst possible time given the recent positive shifts in US policy.' Ukrainian celebrities implored Mr Zelensky not to sign the law, including the popular chef Yehven Klopotenko and actor-turned-military fundraiser Serhiy Prytula. Anastasia Radina, the head of the parliamentary anti-corruption committee, was reportedly the only member of Mr Zelensky's Servant of the People party to speak out against the legislation ahead of the vote. 'I ask you, colleagues, not to deceive yourselves and the people that you are voting for some mild strengthening of the prosecutor general, and not for the dismantling of Nabu and Sapo,' she said. 'After the amendments that the committee added to this bill today, contrary to the rules, the anti-corruption prosecutor's office becomes a fiction for budget funds.' On Tuesday, Nabu announced that, together with Sapo, it had charged a senior SBU officer and two accomplices with extorting a $300,000 bribe. The case involved a military officer accused of facilitating illegal border-crossings for men seeking to flee the country. No senior government figure had publicly defended the law by Tuesday afternoon, amid a furious backlash from Ukrainian civil society. 'Anti-democratic backslide' 'Last week, we ran an editorial warning of an anti-democratic backslide in Ukraine,' said Olga Rudenko, editor-in-chief of the respected Kyiv Independent. 'Today, it's happening in plain sight. 'This isn't what our people have been fighting and dying for, and it's devastatingly unfair to them.' The German foreign office said in a statement: 'The independence and strength of Ukraine's anti-corruption institutions have been key to reform efforts of recent years. Ukraine will continue to be measured against their progress.' 'Europe helped pull Zelensky's relationship back from the brink of collapse after the Oval Office debacle. But now this unforced error by Kyiv. Where does it leave Ukraine's EU accession?' said Nigel Gould-Davies, a former UK ambassador to Belarus and senior fellow at the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS), a Washington-based think tank. Before the vote, Guillaume Mercier, a spokesman for the European Commission, said: '[Nabu and Sapo] are crucial to Ukraine's reform agenda and must operate in an independent way to fight corruption and maintain public trust.' 'The EU provides significant financial assistance to Ukraine conditional on progress in transparency, judicial reform and democratic governance.' 'Ukraine's accession [to the EU] will require a strong capacity to combat corruption and to ensure institutional resilience.'
Straits Times
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Lawmakers in Ukraine vote to curb autonomy of anti-graft agencies
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Ukraine's Parliament passed a Bill on July 22 which tightens control over two key anti-corruption agencies at the centre of the government's reform drive. KYIV - Ukraine's Parliament voted on July 22 to tighten restrictions on two key anti-corruption agencies at the centre of the government's reform drive, rolling back their autonomy in favour of tighter executive control. Stamping out endemic graft is a key requirement for Kyiv to join the European Union, as well as to secure billions in Western aid. Independent investigators have in recent months embarrassed senior officials with allegations of corruption. The July 22 vote paves the way for the general prosecutor, appointed by the president, to gain more control over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), several lawmakers said. On July 21, Kyiv's domestic security agency arrested two NABU officials on suspicion of ties to Russia and conducted searches into agency employees on other grounds. Critics and the two agencies said the crackdown went too far. No senior official has publicly commented on the reasoning for the July 22 draft law, which would allow the general prosecutor to transfer cases from the agencies and reassign prosecutors. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Two found dead after fire in Toa Payoh flat Singapore Singaporeans aged 21 to 59 can claim $600 SG60 vouchers from July 22 Singapore Singaporeans continue to hold world's most powerful passport in latest ranking Singapore Singapore, Vietnam agree to step up defence ties, dialogue between leaders Asia Malaysia govt's reform pledge tested as DAP chief bows over unresolved 2009 death of political aide Tech Singapore to increase pool of early adopters in AI to complement data scientists, engineers Singapore Prosecution says judge who acquitted duo of bribing ex-LTA official had copied defence arguments Singapore Ports and planes: The 2 Singapore firms helping to keep the world moving President Volodymyr Zelensky's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, NABU chief Semen Kryvonos urged Mr Zelensky not to sign the Bill, which he described as an attempt to 'destroy' Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure. Ukraine's government bonds fell more than 2 per cent in the international markets, with the bulk of the US$20 billion (S$25 billion) of debt it restructured in 2024 down over one cent at between 45 and 50 cents on the dollar. Pressure on agencies EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos said she was 'seriously concerned' by the vote. 'The dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU's independence is a serious step back,' she wrote on X, adding that rule of law was at 'the very centre' of accession talks. NABU chief Semen Kryvonos urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky not to sign the Bill that was approved by Ukraine's Parliament. PHOTO: REUTERS More on this topic Ukraine conducts widespread searches, arrests of anti-corruption officials NABU and SAPO were established after the 2014 Maidan revolution that toppled a pro-Russian president and set Kyiv on a Western course. The two agencies have stepped up their work since Russia's full-scale invasion, levelling charges against lawmakers, ministers and a former deputy head of Mr Zelenskiy's administration. Anti-graft campaigners have been alarmed since authorities charged a top anti-corruption activist earlier this month with fraud and evading military service. Critics have cast those charges as political retribution for exposing corrupt officials. 'Most dangerous moment' A Western diplomat familiar with Ukraine's reform effort described the developments as 'the most dangerous moment' yet for the independence of anti-corruption authorities. 'The Ukrainian side is testing the limits more and more,' the person said, referring to the patience of Kyiv's allies. The government also faced criticism for rejecting the candidacy of an economic security chief and current NABU detective who was unanimously backed by an internationally supervised committee. Many influential Ukrainians lashed out after the July 22 vote, saying it was a betrayal of Ukraine's decade-long geopolitical ambition. 'What kind of European integration can we talk about now?!!!!' wrote Mr Serhiy Prytula, a prominent crowdfunder for the military and one-time politician, on X. 'A bloody shame.' REUTERS
Straits Times
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Ukraine lawmakers vote to curb autonomy of anti-graft agencies
Find out what's new on ST website and app. FILE PHOTO: Semen Kryvonos, director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), speaks in an interview with Reuters in Kyiv, Ukraine August 18, 2023. Ukrainian National Anti-Corruption Bureau Press Service/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Ukraine's parliament voted on Tuesday to tighten restrictions on two key anti-corruption agencies, lawmakers said, rolling back the autonomy of institutions that have been at the centre of the government's reform programme. Stamping out endemic graft is a central requirement for Kyiv to join the European Union, and independent investigators have in recent months embarrassed senior officials with allegations of corruption. Tuesday's vote paves the way for the presidentially appointed general prosecutor to gain more control over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office. On Monday, the domestic security agency arrested two NABU officials on suspicion of ties to Russia and conducted dozens of searches into agency employees on other grounds. Critics including the two agencies said the crackdown went too far and compromised their mission. Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, NABU chief Semen Kryvonos urged President Volodymyr Zelenskiy not to sign the bill, which he described as an attempt to "destroy" Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure. No senior Ukrainian official has yet publicly commented on the reasoning for Tuesday's draft law, which would allow the general prosecutor to reassign cases and prosecutors from the two agencies. Ahead of the vote, European Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier voiced concern about its consequences. "These institutions are crucial to Ukraine's reform agenda and must operate independently to fight corruption and maintain public trust," Mercier said. "Ukraine's EU accession will require a strong capacity to combat corruption and to ensure institutional resilience." REUTERS
