Vlasenko–Buzhanskyi Temporary Investigative Commission Discredits Parliamentary Oversight

Transparency International Ukraine supports the joint statement by civil society organizations calling for an end to the unlawful actions of the Temporary Investigative Commission on investigating corruption in law enforcement agencies, courts, and judicial authorities (the TIC). 

We believe it is important to emphasize that the activities of this TIC have been discredited from the very outset. In particular, independent investigative journalists and reputable media outlets have publicly reported that the ТІС was established with the aim of preparing political ground for narrowing the powers and undermining the institutional independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).

Members of Parliament who have led the work of the Commission or taken an active part in its activities largely do not inspire public trust and are associated with a questionable reputation. Notably, the Head of the TIC, Serhii Vlasenko, is closely associated with the leader of the parliamentary faction, Yuliia Tymoshenko, in relation to whom the NABU and the SAPO are conducting criminal proceedings and who has been served with a notice of suspicion this morning. Moreover, Mr. Vlasenko himself is also known for harmful legislative initiatives and for his active opposition to the involvement of international experts in selection commissions. The Deputy Head of the TIC, Mr. Buzhanskyi, was the author of legislative amendments that posed a direct threat to the independence of the anti-corruption infrastructure.

Furthermore, the activities of the TIC have been marked by systematic pressure on members of the High Qualification Commission of Judges, members of the High Council of Justice, and members of the Public Integrity Council, as well as on other individuals involved in judicial reform.

At the end of last year, in accordance with the statutory parliamentary timeline, the TIC published its report. We see a serious risk in that document. In particular, its provisions reflect a significant deviation from Ukraine’s commitments under the rule-of-law agenda, its European integration obligations in the field of anti-corruption, the approved anti-corruption strategy, and the relevant reform roadmaps.

In view of all the arguments above, TI Ukraine considers it necessary to terminate the work of this TIC and supports the joint statement by civil society organizations, which we give below. 

Open Letter to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Regarding the Termination of the Unlawful Actions of the Temporary Investigative Commission on Investigating Corruption in Law Enforcement Agencies, Courts, and Judicial Authorities 

On June 19, 2025, the Parliament established the Temporary Investigative Commission of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to investigate possible facts of corruption or corruption-related offenses in law enforcement agencies, courts, and bodies of judicial governance (the TIC), chaired by Members of Parliament Serhii Vlasenko and Maksym Buzhanskyi.

Despite its declared purpose, the TIC threatens the independence of anti-corruption bodies and judicial authorities. In particular, the TIC committed the following violations:

• reviewed the activities of the HCJ, the HQCJ, and the PIC, although the Parliament did not assign it this task in Article 1(2)(1) of the resolution establishing the TIC;
• attempted to compel the appearance of HQCJ member Serhii Chumak, despite the fact that Article 49(3) of the Law of Ukraine on the Judiciary and the Status of Judges prohibits compulsory appearance for judges; 
• established an expert group not provided by law, the members of which bear no personal liability for knowingly false findings.

The following institutions have already stated that the TIC exceeded its mandate and is being used as an instrument of pressure on anti-corruption bodies and interference with the independence of the judiciary: the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC), the High Council of Justice (HCJ), the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine (HQCJ), and the Public Integrity Council (PIC).

In its 2025 report on Ukraine, the European Commission noted that the TIC “should not erode public trust in anticorruption institutions through unwarranted public statements nor overstep the limitations stemming from the separation of powers.”

In its opinion, the Parliamentary Rules Committee stated that the TIC submitted its activity report without complying with the requirements of Article 21 of the Law of Ukraine on Temporary Investigative Commissions and Temporary Special Commissions of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine—the deadline for the TIC’s next report is missing; there is no information on voting on each established circumstance; and the report contains no proposals. Despite the fact that the Parliament did not consider the TIC’s report and did not instruct it to continue its work, the TIC approved a plan for the coming months and is planning meetings.

The actions of the Members of Parliament on the TIC discredit parliamentary oversight, have nothing to do with a genuine fight against corruption, and create risks for fulfilling Ukraine’s commitments to the EU.

In light of these facts, we demand that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine:

1. Immediately include on the agenda of the next plenary session the issue of hearing the TIC’s report, conclusions, and proposals.
2. Following consideration of the TIC’s report, adopt a decision to terminate the TIC’s mandate.

Civil society organizations:

• DEJURE Foundation
• ZMINA Human Rights Center 
• CHESNO movement
• Center for Economic Strategy
• Bihus.Info
• StateWatch
• Human Rights Group SICH
• Detector Media
• Transparency International Ukraine
• Center for Civil Liberties