National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine

The position of Commissioner for anti-corruption policy was established by the second Tymoshenko Government on April 24, 2009.[11] Its first meeting took place on 22 April 2010; at the time most of its members were government officials.[12] In September 2011 then President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych became head of the National Anti-Corruption Committee, while the Justice Minister served as the secretary of the committee.[13][14] At that time the committee was tasked to give systematic analysis and to develop measures to combat corruption.[14]

6 March 2014 Tetiana Chornovol become the Commissioner for anti-corruption policy.[15] At the time the organization was set to employ 1,200 people in seven regional offices.[6] Chornovol resigned on 18 August 2014 because "there is no political will in Ukraine to carry out a hard-edged, large-scale war against corruption".[16]

Founding and launching the National Anti-Corruption Bureau was one of the requirements set by the IMF and the European Commission for relaxation of visa restrictions between Ukraine and the European Union.

On 14 October 2014 Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law "On the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine".

In January 2015 for the first time in history of modern Ukraine an open competition for position of director of a state agency was announced. 186 candidates applied for the position of Director of the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine. The winner of the competition was Artem Sytnyk.

On 16 April 2015 the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko signed two decrees: No. 217/2015 – decree on founding the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine and No.218/2015 — decree on appointing Artem Sytnyk the Bureau's Director. This provided a starting point for a new state agency. The first order signed by the NABU Director on 23 April 2015 approved the Bureau's structure and staffing. On 24 April Gizo Uglava was appointed First Deputy Director. When Gizo Uglava was hired by Artem Sytnyk he said:"Ukraine matters to Georgia, we believe that if we save Georgia, we save Ukraine, and the other way round. Moreover, that’s my chance to do what I love – to investigate".[17] Later two more Deputy Directors were appointed: Anatoly Novak and Tetyana Varvarska. On 7 May the Bureau was given premises At 3 Vasylya Surykova street, Kyiv.

On 30 November 2015 the competition for the position of the Head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, on which the start of the NABU work depended, was over. Nazar Kholodnitskiy took the position. On 4 December the NABU detectives entered the first three criminal proceedings concerning the theft of state owned companies' funds to the value of ₴1 billion into the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations.

The agency's detectives underwent training sponsored by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and the European Union.[8]

From June 2017 the NABU Director is a member of the EUACI's Steering Committee. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau is one of the beneficiaries this program.[18]

On February 25, the group of anti-corruption investigations "Bigus.Info" published the report about the people from Petro Poroshenko's surrounding who are in control of thefts in the defense sector. In March, two criminal proceedings were opened regarding involvement of people from Petro Poroshenko's team in the theft in the defense sphere. Ex-First Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleh Hladkovsky, his son Ihor and other persons were searched.[19]

In November, the Bureau served notice of suspicion to one of the richest Ukrainians, Oleg Bakhmatyuk, over the NBU's takeover of a $1.2bn USD loan.[20][21]

In November, the deputy chief of the Kyiv City Customs and the Odesa businessman Vadim Alperin, whom the media called "the king" and the "godfather" of Ukrainian smuggling, was detained.[22] Investigators assert he unsuccessfully offered NABU detective a bribe of $800,000.[23]

Ukrainian media has repeatedly published information about the connections, interventions and influence on the activities of NABU of the US Embassy in Ukraine.[24][25][26]

In October 2019, Ukrainian MP and graduate of the KGB school Andrii Derkach published documents about the possible influence of the US Embassy in Ukraine on the activities of NABU. Among the published materials were correspondence between Polina Chyzh, the assistant to the first deputy head of NABU Gizo Uglava, and Hanna Emelyanova, the specialist on legal issues of the anti-corruption program of the US Department of Justice of the US Embassy in Ukraine. According to Derkach, this correspondence contained lists of criminal cases on which NABU detectives worked, as well as instructions on providing information on the case of former Minister of Environmental Protection and owner of Burisma Mykola Zlochevsky. According to Derkach, American politician Joe Biden influenced the Ukrainian authorities and helped to close criminal cases related to the activities of former Minister Mykola Zlochevsky.[27]

In April 2020, former Prosecutor General of Ukraine Viktor Shokin expressed the opinion that the initiator of the establishment of NABU in 2015 was the then US Vice President Joe Biden in order to "steal the investigation powers from the State Bureau of Investigation to NABU and put there emissaries who listen to the United States".[28] Victor Shokin has previously complained about pressure on his activities from Biden in the investigation of the Burisma case and wrote a statement to the State Bureau of Investigation about the disclosure a secret information by NABU staff and Shokin's personal data leak to US embassy in Ukraine.[24][25]

On September 10, 2020 the United States imposed sanctions on Andriy Derkach among other Russian agents for attempting to influence the U.S. electoral process.[29]

Ukrzaliznytsia PCR test fraud[30]

NABU and SAPO exposed a scheme used by Ukrzaliznytsia officials to purchase more than 11,000 COVID-19 PCR tests at inflated prices. The illegal overpayment could have amounted to almost UAH 5 million, if not for the vigilance of Ukrzaliznytsia auditors. They reported the criminal intent to the National Bureau, which, in turn, notified the perpetrators of suspicion.

Receipt of UAH 558 000 in undue advantage by MP[31]

On Sept. 23, 2022, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) referred the case against an incumbent MP charged with receiving UAH 558,000 in undue advantage to court. His actions fall under Part 2 Art. 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The indictment had been served the day before.

Attempted bribery of State Inspectorate for Architecture and Urban Planning of Ukraine head[32]

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized AntiCorruption Prosecutor`s Office, in cooperation with the head of the State Inspectorate for Architecture and Urban Planning of Ukraine (SIAUP) Semen Kryvonos, prevented his attempted bribery. A representative of one of the capital’s developers offered the official about USD 120,000 in exchange for a certificate of commissioning of a high-rise building in Kyiv, erected with a number of violations. He also hinted he was ready to solve similar issues in a similar way in the interests of other construction companies.

Ex-MP caught on attempted bribery of Dnipro mayor[33]

On Oct. 18, 2022, NABU and SAPO exposed a former Ukrainian lawmaker attempting to bribe the mayor of Dnipro for EUR 22 million. The sum of the undue advantage is one of the biggest among those recorded in Ukraine.

Pre-trial investigation in the 2023

In 2022 NABU detectives and SAPO prosecutors exposed 187 persons and notified them of suspicion. Indictments against 54 persons were sent to court.

Corruption in Supreme Court[34]

On May 15, 2023, NABU and SAPO carried out one of their most significant operations, exposing the Head of the Supreme Court accepting a bribe. He, along with a middleman lawyer, is suspected of receiving USD 2.7 million in exchange for rendering a decision in favor of the owner of the "Finance and Credit" group. The "judicial services" were priced at USD 1.8 million, with an additional USD 900,000 supposed to be distributed among the intermediaries.

Сriminal organization inside SPFU[35]

In March, NABU and SAPO exposed a criminal organization led by the head of the State Property Fund of Ukraine (2019-2022), which embezzled more than UAH 500 million from JSC "Odesa Port Plant" and JSC "United Mining and Chemical Company".

Boiler scheme: Deputy Minister exposed[36]

In January 2023, NABU and SAPO conducted an operation to expose high-level corruption within the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine. One of the participants in the scheme turned out to be a Deputy Minister, who was caught receiving an undue benefit of USD 400,000

Embezzlement of UAH 18 mln from SE "Antonov"[37]

On March 10, 2023, NABU and SAPO notified the former official of Antonov SE (a subsidiary of Ukroboronprom State Concern) and the director of a lawyer's association of suspicion of embezzling more than UAH 18 million from the enterprise and issuing false official documents.

Pre-trial investigation in the first part of 2023

Overall, in the first half of 2023, NABU and SAPO notified 11 high-ranking state officials of suspicion, exposed corrupt actions by 26 heads of state-owned enterprises, and held 7 judges accountable. NABU and SAPO exposed and served suspicion notices on 137 persons. Indictments against 147 persons were sent to court.

Economic effect in the first part of 2023

The economic impact of NABU and SAPO's work since the beginning of 2023 amounts to more than UAH 1.67 billion. Thanks to NABU and SAPO, an additional UAH 662 million has been sent for the country's defense needs since the start of 2023. In total, since russia unleashed its all-out aggression, almost UAH 2 billion has been allocated. These are assets seized or voluntarily contributed within the scope of criminal proceedings investigated by NABU and SAPO, as well as bail deposited following the rulings of the High Anti-Corruption Court.

Besides funding for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, nearly UAH 1 billion has been reimbursed to the state, including public enterprises. Over UAH 883 million was returned by private companies to PJSC "Ukrnafta" (50%+1 share owned by the state), and an additional UAH 2 million was compensated for damages to JSC "Ukrzaliznytsia" (fully owned by the state).

The materials collected during the investigation by NABU detectives helped successfully prevent the embezzlement of nearly UAH 70.5 million. Throughout 2023, several guilty verdicts were also legally enforced with property confiscation, including both monetary assets and real estate, totaling over UAH 25.5 million.

NABU and SAPO in full-scale war

At the beginning of invasion, some employees of the anti-corruption bodies defended the country, while others were engaged in preserving materials of criminal proceedings and ensuring the necessary level of work, because the continuation of preventive measures, consideration of complaints and appeals was not canceled.  

Several dozen employees of the NABU participated in the protection of important facility in the government quarter of the capital. Twelve prosecutors of the SAPO mobilized to the Territorial Defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and they did it voluntarily, although they had reservation from mobilization. You have to agree that this says a lot about quality of these people. Detectives were also searching for saboteurs and collaborators, establishing the location and movement of the Russian military, and several times found places where Russians were ambushed. Seven officers of the NABU were awarded with state awards by the President of Ukraine.  

There were also losses. One detective was seriously wounded during fights near the village of Pytomnyk in Kharkiv region. In September, Ivan Gvozdev, the Major of the Special Operations Department of the NABU was killed during hostilities in Mykolaiv region. In October, the Major Taras Pona of the Ukrainian Security Service was killed near Bakhmut.

Support to the Defence Forces of Ukraine

Since February 24, 2022 till the end of 2022 more than 1.22 billion UAH has been transferred to support our soldiers at the expense of pledges and seized assets.  

• 6 million USD from the record bribe case in the history of the NABU[38];
• 5 million USD arrested in the case against former Minister of Agrarian Policy[39];
• 3.7 million USD, 846.000 EUR, 20.000 GBP and 242.000 UAH from the case of brother of the head of the KDAC;
• over 400 million UAH from the case of “smuggling king” Alperin;  
• 300.000 USD from the case against tax officials who helped to minimize tax payments;
• 200.000 USD from the case of bribery of the head of the State Property Fund.

Support to the Defence Forces of Ukraine in 2023: thanks to NABU and SAPO, an additional UAH 662 million has been sent for the country's defense needs since the start of 2023.

1. performing investigative and police operations;
2. conducting the pre-trial inquiry of criminal crimes which belong to their jurisdiction or other, defined by law;
3. checking for virtuous persons who are authorized to the execution of state's functions and local self-governance;
4. undertaking activities of the police search and an arrest of funds and another property which can objects for compensation, also saving funds and other property which were arrested;
5. interacting with other state bodies, bodies of local self-governance and other subjects for execution its duties;
6. performing informational and analytical work;
7. providing personal security of National Buro workers and other persons who are determined by law;
8. under confidentiality and volunteering, providing cooperation with persons, who report about corruption;
9. reporting about its activity and informing society about the results of its work.[40]

1. to open investigative cases based on the decree which is approved by the head of the relevant subunit of National Buro and to conduct transparent and unspoken investigative activities;
2. according to the head's decision which is agreed with a prosecutor, to demand investigative and criminal implementations from other law enforcement agencies;
3. due to the decision of the head of the structural subunit of NABU to demand statements about the property, incomes, expenses, financial duties of persons, statements about the funds using of the State Budget of Ukraine, the disposal of state or communal property. NABU has a direct access to public automated informational and reference systems, registers, and a data bank, use the state's means of communication, the networks of the special connections and other technical means;
4. to search documents and another material sources of information which are necessary to prevent, identify, interrupt and investigate criminal crimes, in particular, those which consist limited information;
5. according to the head or his vice's decision which is approved by the prosecutor, to receive information from banks, depository, financial and other institutions, interprices and organizations about operations, accounts, contributions, bargains of natural and legal person;
6. on the basis of the relevant court's decision to seal up archives, cash registers, premises (except living places) or other storages, took them under protection, also to take out items and documents in order which is provided by Criminal Procedure Law;
7. to attract qualified specialists and experts from any institutions, organizations, control and financial bodies on the voluntary basis, including contractual conditions;
8. on the basis of the written decision of the head or the vice of NABU which is agreed by the prosecutor, to create common investigation groups which include operational and investigation workers;
9. to enter freely to the state bodies, the bodies of local self-governance and a zone of customs control by providing a court certificate, also to enter freely to the military corps and institutions, border posts of Ukraine by providing written disposal of the head or his vice;
10. to use transport means which belong to natural and legal person (except transport means of diplomatic, consular and other representations of foreign states and organizations, special vehicles with further refund of losses;
11. to send to the state bodies, the bodies of local self-governance compulsory for the consideration of proposals and recommendations for eliminations reasons and conditions which promote criminal crimes, and also to receive information about their consideration during 30 days;
12. to cooperate with natural persons including the contractual ground and stick to the conditions of voluntariness and confidentiality of these relations, to stimulate people in material and moral way who provide assistance;
13. to sue in case the recognition of agreements' invalidity;
14. to create informational systems and keep an operating account;
15. to hold, carry and use of firearms and special means, and also carry out activities of physical influence;
16. to issue firearms, special means of individual protection and notifications about the danger to protected persons;
17. to cooperate with the competent bodies of foreign states, international organizations;
18. to receive materials which are provided within the frameworks of international law assistance from the procuratorial authorities and Ministry of Justice;
19. to act as a representative of the state's interests during the performance in case management of the police search, arrest, confiscation and return of the appropriate property to Ukraine, the defense of rights and interests of state, and also to attract legal advisers for such purposes;
20. to raise the issue of the establishment of the special conditions (including the issue of classifying location) in places of imprisonment for people who cooperate with NABU [40]

The National Agency on Corruption Prevention seeks to 'shape and implement anti-corruption policy while creating an environment conducive to corruption prevention'.[41] While NABU focuses on law-enforcement, the NACP shapes policy and develops regulations that help to prevent corruption and ensures compliance.

It is responsible for verifying the accuracy of government officials' asset and income declarations.[10] In July 2016, its civil society representative, Ruslan Riaboshapka, criticised the hiring process, saying that the agency was choosing the lowest-scoring candidates.[42]

The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) supports and oversees criminal investigations launched by NABU, by drawing up indictments and bringing them before the courts.