The RPR Coalition Calls on Members of Parliament to Restore the Institutional Independence of Anti-Corruption Agencies

The unlawful adoption and hasty signing of Draft Law No. 12414 on July 22 marked a “black” day for the Verkhovna Rada of the IX convocation and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

This decision undermined the independence of the anti-corruption infrastructure, yet it failed to shake the strength and unity of Ukrainian society, which once again demonstrated its maturity, agency, and determination in defending democratic values. The adoption of these provisions represented a clear step backward on Ukraine’s path toward European integration and democratic development. In order to resume movement in the right direction, the authorities must return to the initial position and repeal the changes that obstruct the opening of the fundamental reform cluster and contradict the Roadmaps adopted by the Government.

Civil society has repeatedly called on the authorities to engage in constructive dialogue. Today, we call for concrete action — to repeal the provisions of Law No. 4555 through a vote in the parliamentary session on July 31.

We, representatives of civil society organizations and participants in the peaceful protest that spread across Ukraine, call on the Verkhovna Rada to adopt, as a whole, one of the draft laws aimed at restoring the institutional capacity of NABU and SAPO:

• No. 13533, “On Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine and Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine Regarding the Strengthening of Powers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office”, or
• No. 13531, “On Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine and the Law of Ukraine ‘On the Prosecutor’s Office’ Regarding the Restoration of Institutional Independence of the Bodies Conducting Pre-Trial Investigation and Procedural Oversight in Corruption Cases.”

After the law is adopted in full, we urge the Verkhovna Rada to vote for its immediate signing by the Chairperson of Parliament, and we call on the Speaker and the President of Ukraine to sign it without delay.

We emphasize that passing one of these draft laws is necessary not only for NABU and SAPO, or for our international partners such as the EU and OECD, or for protesters and civic organizations. It is equally needed by the President, the Government, and all Members of Parliament. This is an opportunity to correct a mistake — the only effective and honest way to say to the Ukrainian people: “We are sorry. We were wrong.”

We remind the authorities that they are obligated to strictly adhere to the Constitution of Ukraine, which defines the country’s strategic course toward full membership in the European Union and NATO.

Based on this, and to reaffirm commitment to the European integration path, we call on:

• The President of Ukraine and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine — to appoint judges to the Constitutional Court of Ukraine from among the competition-selected candidates.
• The President of Ukraine — to sign the Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine Regarding the Strengthening of Certain Guarantees for Media, Journalists, and Citizens in Access to Information” (draft law No. 11321), which includes, in particular, live streaming of parliamentary committee meetings.
• The President of Ukraine — to stop the systematic violation of the 15-day deadline for signing laws established by Article 94 of the Constitution and to comply with the legal obligation to sign laws in the event of delay.
• The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine — to preserve the decisive role of international experts in competitive selection procedures, particularly in the selection of members of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine by adopting draft law No. 13382.
• The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine — to initiate amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On Public Consultations” to extend the obligation for Members of Parliament to conduct public consultations during the drafting of legislation.
• The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine — to appoint the competitively selected Director of the Bureau of Economic Security (BES).

We appeal to all representatives of the authorities: draw the right conclusions and preserve the unity of Ukrainian society — this is our most vital resource in confronting Russian aggression and building a democratic, European state.

The statement was signed by:

The Reanimation Package of Reforms Coalition

1. Ukrainian Paralegal Association

2. NGO “Parents for Vaccination”

3. NGO “Struggle for Rights”

4. Detector Media

5. Institute for Civil Society

6. Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting

7. Institute of Euro-Atlantic Cooperation

8. Respublica Institute

9. Institute of Regional Press Development

10. Institute for Central European Strategy

11. Committee of Voters of Ukraine

12. National Union of Cinematographers of Ukraine

13. Plast

14. NGO “Together Against Corruption”

15. Eastern SOS Charitable Foundation

16. Ukrainian Foundation for Public Health

17. Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research

18. Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation

19. New Europe Center

20. Life Civil Advocacy Center

21. Center for Democracy and Rule of Law

22. Center for Research on the Liberation Movement

23. LRHub Center for Economic Growth

24. Eidos Center for Political Studies and Analysis

25. Center for Innovations Development

26. Centre of Policy and Legal Reform

27. Ukrainian Centre for European Policy

28. School of Political Analytics

29. NGO “Legal Hundred”

30. NGO “EasyBusiness”

Other Civil Society Organizations:

31. Civil Network OPORA

32. Human Rights Center ZMINA

33. “Liberty Space” Movement

34. Transparency International Ukraine

35. Center for Civil Liberties

36. NGO “Anti-Corruption Headquarters”

37. Laboratory of Legislative Initiatives

38. Bureau of Social and Political Developments

39. NGO “BRK”

40. NGO “We Are from Levandivka”

41. Crimean Human Rights Group

42. NGO “August Virlich Foundation”

43. Civil Society Information and Analysis Center “Hromadskyi Prostir”

44. Open Policy Foundation

45. Anti-Corruption Maritime Control of Ukraine

46. Cultural Hub NGO

47. NGO “Access Point”

48. NGO “Laboratory for Innovative Research”

49. NGO “Kharkiv Anti-Corruption Center”

50. NGO “Foundation for Innovative Regional Development” (Up2Ukraine)

51. Kyiv Security Forum

52. NGO “Territory of Success”

53. NGO “People’s Defense”

54. NGO “Center for Support of Civic and Cultural Initiatives ‘Tamarisk’”

55. Zarvanytsia Civic Initiative

56. NGO “Gender Culture Center”

57. NGO “Spilno HUB”

58. Concerned Elders — Children of the Previous War

59. Kremenchuk Anti-Corruption Center

60. Nordic Ukraine Forum

61. Ukrainian Crisis Media Center

62. NGO “Vyshche”

63. NGO “Women’s Anti-Corruption Movement”

64. NGO “Social Capital”

65. NGO “Prosto Production Media”

66. NGO “Horizon of Change”

67. NGO “Center for Civic Initiatives ‘Chaika’”

68. NGO “Agency for Regional Development Initiatives”

69. Charitable Organization “Charity Fund ‘Prince Sviatoslav the Brave Regiment’”

70. Lviv Municipal Library

71. NGO “Expert Resource ‘Gender in Detail’”

72. NGO “Bilozerka Center for Regional Development”

73. Center for Reforms and Local Development

74. Volyn Press Club

75. NGO “Civic Movement ‘SVIDOMI’”

76. NGO “Diyachky”

77. NGO “Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group”

78. NGO “Poltava Region Investigative Journalism Center ‘MediaDokaz’”

79. NGO “Improve Yourself”

80. All-Ukrainian Youth NGO “Foundation for Regional Initiatives”

81. ISAR Ednannia

82. NGO “Mystetskyi Arsenal Community”

83. NGO “Mykolaiv City Development Fund”

84. Training and Consulting Center for Access to Information

85. Civil Union “Ukrainian Capital Markets Association”

86. NGO “Agency of Urban Initiatives”

87. NGO “Women Leaders for Ukraine”

88. International Renaissance Foundation

89. Expert Group “Sova”

90. NGO “Zaporizhzhia Investigation Center”

91. NGO “Support for Rural Development”

92. Center for Joint Actions

93. Anti-Corruption Center MEZHA

94. CHESNO Movement

95. NGO “Integrity UA”

96. International NGO “International League for the Protection of Civil Rights of Ukraine”

97. NGO “MINZMIN”

98. Youth NGO “Ukrainian Union of Young Geographers”

99. NGO “Ukraine Future Network”

100. Ukrainian Women’s Congress

101. Against Corruption

102. NGO “Generation U”

103. CO CF “KRYLA Foundation”

104. Charitable Foundation “Principle of Hope”

105. NGO “Center for Public Monitoring and Analytics”

106. Association “Energy Efficient Cities of Ukraine” (EECU)

107. NGO “Agency for Sustainable Development ‘Khmarochos’”

108. NGO “D.O.M.48.24”

109. Window of Recovery

110. Institute for a Successful City

111. NGO “Center for Strategic Partnership”