The recent coordinated actions of the Security Service of Ukraine, the Prosecutor General’s Office, and the State Bureau of Investigation point to an attempt by the authorities to undermine the independence of Ukraine’s post-Revolution of Dignity anti-corruption institutions. These actions appear aimed at forcibly extracting information and influencing investigations into top-level officials. Transparency International Ukraine publicly denounces this pressure on anti-corruption agencies as unacceptable.
On July 21, officers from the SSU, PGO, and SBI conducted warrantless searches of multiple detectives from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and initiated an unscheduled inspection of the handling of state secrets at the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office.
Available public information suggests that the overarching aim of these actions was to influence the operations of the NABU and the SAPO.
- The sheer scale of the operation — 70 warrantless searches of NABU and SAPO personnel — demonstrates a sweeping and systematic pressure campaign by the SSU and PGO against Ukraine’s anti-corruption law enforcement institutions. The alleged offenses attributed to the detectives range from traffic violations to treason, allegations so broad and inconsistent that they indicate an ulterior motive behind the operation. The scope and coordination of the raids also contradict any claims of urgency.
- During these searches, SSU agents unlawfully used physical force against a NABU detective who did not resist. This act appears to have been staged to produce a “viral image,” which was leaked to Telegram channels before any official statements. Such actions also constitute a violation of an individual’s right to privacy.
- The official communications of the law enforcement agencies raise further concerns. In public statements, the SSU and PGO have made assertions about additional alleged offenses by NABU employees — offenses for which they have not been officially charged. The publication of full names of public officials by government bodies undermines the presumption of innocence.
- The unannounced inspection of SAPO’s handling of classified materials without informing its leadership violates established procedures and risks compromising sensitive anti-corruption investigations. If the SSU gains access to all covert investigative materials and special operations, it could jeopardize ongoing cases, including those targeting high-level officials.
- The SBI’s revival of cases involving road traffic accidents from 2021 and 2023 further points to a deliberate and systemic campaign of pressure by various law enforcement agencies. This is not standard pre-trial procedure, it is a coordinated attempt to “resurrect” any possible case against NABU employees.
It is now clear that this joint campaign by the SSU, PGO, and SBI violates several provisions of Ukrainian law and is aimed at discrediting the work of anti-corruption institutions. This raises serious doubts about the ability of the NABU, the SAPO, and other bodies in the anti-corruption system to continue operating independently and to see high-profile investigations through to conviction. It also undermines the progress Ukraine has made in fighting corruption over the past 11 years.
Transparency International Ukraine emphasizes that such actions are especially damaging during wartime, as they erode the institutional resilience vital to the integrity and development of the state.
We call on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to publicly guarantee the independence of anti-corruption institutions and demand that the Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General’s Office immediately cease their unlawful pressure.
