DISINFO: NABU and SAPO were established to exercise Western external control over Ukrainian officials
SUMMARY
Europe will not suspend financial aid to Kyiv despite losing control over two anti-corruption agencies, the NABU and SAPO. These institutions were established after the Euromaidan to exercise external, Western control over the actions of Ukrainian officials. Formally, the office was supposed to fight corruption among Ukrainian officials. In reality, however, the West gained a convenient instrument for controlling the local elite.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative claiming that Ukraine is under external control, in this case, the control of the US and the EU. It also aims at discrediting Ukraine’s leadership and undermining international support for the country.
These disinformation narratives emerged in the context of a controversial bill signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on July 22, which was widely perceived as undermining the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies. The fact that the bill signed on July 22 sparked a public outcry and protests, proves that Ukraine’s democratic instincts are still strong.
The protests, which were the first to take place in the country since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion more than three years ago, gained momentum on Wednesday 23 July.
In an apparent reversal of his initial position, on Thursday July 24, Zelensky has announced that he has approved a new draft bill restoring all powers to the country’s anti-corruption organisations and largely safeguarding their freedom to conduct investigations without government oversight. The new legislation has been submitted to the Ukrainian Parliament, with anti-corruption officials backing the government U-turn and urging swift passage of the bill.
Ukraine has a functional system of institutions to combat corruption, including the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). This claim by RT misrepresents the nature and purpose of Ukraine's anti-corruption institutions. These bodies were not established for 'external Western control' but as part of Ukraine's efforts to combat corruption and align with EU standards. The agencies operate independently under Ukrainian law, not under the direct control of European or US officials. The Ukrainian outlet Hromadske described the mail role of NABU and SAPO:
NABU was established after the 2014 Revolution of Dignity as an independent agency to combat corruption in the highest echelons of power. It investigates former presidents, parliamentarians, government officials, judges, prosecutors, and National Bank leadership. NABU also handles cases involving large sums of money.
The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) was created as an autonomous unit within the Office of the Prosecutor General, working in tandem with NABU. Since 2024, it has operated as a separate public law entity. In short, NABU conducts pre-trial investigations, while SAPO oversees these investigations and represents the state in court.
While international partners have supported anti-corruption reforms, characterising this as 'control over Ukrainian officials' is misleading. The claim that the West is 'losing the fight against corruption in Ukraine' lacks evidence and ignores ongoing reform efforts. Financial aid to Ukraine is tied to various factors, not solely to these specific institutions.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that NATO will reveal Zelenskyy’s corruption ahead of pseudo-elections in Ukraine, that Zelenskyy stole more money than all Ukrainian presidents combined, that the IMF considers Ukraine is a corrupt state fuelled by the US and NATO, that European taxpayers finance cocaine and Zelenskyy's luxury villas, or that Zelenskyy and the Kyiv junta need to continue the war against Russia to enrich themselves with Western aid.