Zelensky: NABU and SAPO will work, but need to be cleared of Russian influence

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office will continue to work, but they must be "cleansed of Russian influence." This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

in a nightly video address to

He noted that he discussed "various challenges" with NABU head Semen Kryvonos, SAPO prosecutor Oleksandr Klymenko, Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Malyuk.

"It is important that the Prosecutor General is determined to ensure that in Ukraine the inevitability of punishment for those who go against the law is actually ensured. This is what Ukraine really needs. The cases that have been lying dormant must be investigated," the President said .

According to him, for years, officials who fled Ukraine have been living abroad in "very nice countries" and have no legal consequences for this. And this is not normal .

"There is no rational explanation for why criminal proceedings worth billions have been hanging around for years. And there is no explanation why the Russians can still get the information they need. It is important to do it without Russians. It is important that there is an inevitability of punishment and that society really sees it," the President summarized .

He did not comment on the rallies of Ukrainians in Kyiv, Lviv, and Dnipro against the signing of the law eliminating the independence of anti-corruption bodies. He also did not address allies' concerns about the negative impact of this decision on Ukraine's accession to the EU.

• On the morning of July 21, a source for LIGA.net reported that the SBU and the Prosecutor General's Office were conducting a special operation to neutralize Russian influence on the NABU. The NABU reported more than 70 searches of at least 15 employees.
• On July 22, the Verkhovna Rada supported the law, that abolishes the independence of the NABU and SAPO – it was signed by President Zelensky. NABU head Kryvonos promised to work to restore the independence of the anti-corruption bodies.
• This law caused outrage Rallies were held in Lviv and Dnipro . At least 1200 people gathered in the capital and shouted "shame" when the president signed it.
• At the same time, Prosecutor General Kravchenko said that NABU would not be subordinate to him after the new law was signed.