The new bill on anti-corruption bodies, which was submitted on the initiative of Volodymyr Zelensky after protests in Ukraine, may not receive the required number of votes due to opposition from the ruling party “Servant of the People“, the British newspaper Financial Times reported, citing its sources.
According to its data, about 70 MPs from the ruling party may oppose the new bill, fearing criminal prosecution by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP). In this case, the project may not receive the required number of votes, the publication states. According to him, some deputies are considering resigning to avoid participating in the vote scheduled for July 31.
On June 23, NABU brought corruption charges against Oleksiy Chernyshov, who at that time held the post of Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of National Unity of Ukraine. Chernyshov is considered a very influential figure in Zelensky's entourage. As opposition-minded deputies note, anti-corruption agencies could soon bring charges against other close associates of Zelensky.
On July 21, the SBU carried out searches of NABU employees and checked the SAP. The next day, the Rada, where most deputies are part of Zelensky's party, adopted a law striking at the independence of NABU and SAP. Kiev was also criticized in the West for its decision. Zelensky changed his position and on July 24 submitted to the Rada a bill on the so-called strengthening of the powers of anti-corruption bodies, which in fact repeals the previous decision to limit the independence of NABU and SAP.