The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office ( uk, Спеціалізована антикорупційна прокуратура) or SAPO is an independent structural unit of the
General Prosecutor of Ukraine
The prosecutor general of Ukraine (also procurator general of Ukraine, uk, Генеральний прокурор України) heads the system of official prosecution in courts known as the Office of the Prosecutor General ( uk, Офіс ...
, and is primarily responsible for supporting and overseeing criminal investigations launched by the
National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine
National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine ( uk, Національне Антикорупційне Бюро України, ''НАБУ'') or NABU is a Ukrainian law enforcement anti-corruption agency which investigates corruption in Ukraine ...
(NABU).
Role
The office is legally empowered with: supervision over observance of laws during conducting of operational search activity of pre-trial investigation by the NABU; the maintenance of state prosecution in relevant proceedings; and the representation of the interests of a citizen or state in court in cases provided for by law and related to corruption or corruption-related offenses. In contrast to SAPO and NABU, the
National Agency for Prevention of Corruption aims at preventing corruption by creating an environment that discourages corruption and by proposing legislation.
Creation
The prospect of visa liberalization (
visa-free travel
A visa (from the Latin ''charta visa'', meaning "paper that has been seen") is a conditional authorization granted by a polity to a foreigner that allows them to enter, remain within, or leave its territory. Visas typically include limits on t ...
to the
Schengen Area) between
Ukraine and the European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been de ...
was closely linked with the process of creating the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office.
Leadership and structure
The first head of SAPO, Prosecutor , was appointed in December 2015.
On 26 May 2020
Prosecutor General of Ukraine
The prosecutor general of Ukraine (also procurator general of Ukraine, uk, Генеральний прокурор України) heads the system of official prosecution in courts known as the Office of the Prosecutor General ( uk, Офіс ...
Iryna Venediktova accused him and his fellow anti-corruption prosecutors (in a video message) of "improper performance of official duties" and failing cases against current MP's.
[Kholodnytsky resigned from the SAP]
Ukrayinska Pravda
''Ukrainska Pravda'' ( uk, Українська правда, lit=Ukrainian Truth) is a Ukrainian online newspaper founded by Georgiy Gongadze on 16 April 2000 (the day of the Ukrainian constitutional referendum). Published mainly in Ukrai ...
(21 August 2020) Kholodnytsky resigned on 21 August 2020. In his resignation letter, he claimed that the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office had "systematically faced political attempts to encroach on our independence and manipulate the results of our work."
A commission carried out an open procedure of vetting candidates for the new head and deputy of SAPO in 2021. Out of 37 candidates, only two passed the initial vetting.
was the clear winner, with 246 points, as assessed in a meeting by the commission on 21 December 2021. Andrii Syniuk was second, with 229 points.
On 19 July 2022, the commission formally voted and announced Klymenko as the winner, with Syniuk winning the position of deputy head of SAPO. The formal appointments were to be made by the Prosecutor General's Office.
Appointing the head of SAPO was listed by the European Union (EU) as one of the conditions for
Ukraine to retain candidate EU membership status.
Klymenko was formally appointed on 28 July 2022 by newly elected
Prosecutor General of Ukraine
The prosecutor general of Ukraine (also procurator general of Ukraine, uk, Генеральний прокурор України) heads the system of official prosecution in courts known as the Office of the Prosecutor General ( uk, Офіс ...
Andriy Kostin.
Heads of SAPO
* (2015 - 2020)
[Nazar Kholodnytsky appointed Anti-Corruption Prosecutor of Ukraine – PGO](_blank)
Interfax-Ukraine (12 December 2015), [Ukrainian Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor Resigns](_blank)
Radio Free Europe
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is a United States government funded organization that broadcasts and reports news, information, and analysis to countries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Caucasus, and the Middle East where it says tha ...
(21 August 2020),
*
Oleksandr Klymenko (28 July 2022–present)
See also
*
Corruption in Ukraine
Corruption is a historical issue in Ukrainian society often tied to a troubled relationship with Russia. Since regaining independence from Russia; Ukraine has faced a series of politicians, criminal bosses, and oligarchs who used corruption of ...
*
Anti-corruption agency
An anti-corruption agency is a special police agency specialised in fighting political corruption and engaging in general anti-corruption activities. Most are founded by statute, but some have a constitutional status.
List
See also
*
*
*
...
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European Union Anti-Corruption Initiative
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anti-Corruption Committee of Ukraine
Government agencies of Ukraine
Euromaidan
Corruption in Ukraine
Specialist law enforcement agencies of Ukraine
Anti-corruption agencies
General Prosecutors of Ukraine