Safeguarding anti-corruption watchdogs: Lessons from Ukraine (Transparency International)

29/08/2025: Safeguarding anti-corruption watchdogs: Lessons from Ukraine

Last month, Ukraine’s government provoked a national and international uproar after a controversial move to strip the country’s anti-corruption watchdogs – the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) – of their independence. President Zelenskyy said this was needed to ‘cleanse the agencies of Russian interference’. But Transparency International Ukraine, along with other NGOs, was front and centre of the public push-back to this move, warning that undermining bodies who are supposed to be able to hold authorities to account was a clear step backward on Ukraine’s path toward European integration and democratic development.  

Thousands of Ukrainians took to the streets to protest, with EU leaders also expressing concern. A week later the Ukrainian government did a dramatic U-turn, with independence restored to both the NABU and SAPO.  

So, what can we learn from this episode? Within Ukraine, our colleagues are clear that the U-turn, while welcome, merely corrects a mistake, and does not represent real progress in building stronger anti-corruption institutions. Transparency International’s most recent Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) saw Ukraine score 35 out of 100 points in 2024 – showcasing a certain slowdown in the reform pace compared to previous years.  

Transparency International Ukraine are continuing to push for the government to take concrete action to genuinely strengthen Ukraine’s anti-corruption system, including implementing recommendations from the first-ever external audit of the NABU. This would help lay the groundwork for effective prosecution of high-level corruption. Without these reforms, they believe Ukraine risks losing the trust of citizens and the international community. It could also potentially jeopardise its hopes to integrate into the European Union. 

Placard reading ‘Ukraine in the EU’. Credit: Photo by Mathias Reding on Unsplash.

Globally, it’s a reminder that anti-corruption policies and institutions are fragile and need constant vigilance to protect them. These sorts of independent watchdogs are vital for all countries to ensure that the actions of public officials and public bodies can be scrutinised, challenged and held to account, in order to protect the public interest.  

Transparency International and colleagues across Europe are pushing for improvements in anti-corruption mechanisms in countries seeking to become EU members, including the Western Balkan states. Our analysis has also shown that Europe's ability to combat corruption is falling short, with the regional average score for Western Europe and European Union on the Corruption Perceptions Index dropping for the second consecutive year to 64 out of 100.  

Across the bloc, we’re pushing for robust anti-corruption measures - such as strengthening anti-corruption watchdogs to hold power to account, clean election financing to prevent political candidates from buying their way into office, and robust whistleblower protections so people feel confident to report misconduct. These are the building blocks for greater transparency and integrity in all areas of public life. 

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