NABU refutes threats to its independence due to the new draft law

NABU refutes threats to its independence due to the new draft law

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) states that the new bill does not create any additional risks to its independence. The agency emphasizes that polygraph tests have long been conducted by NABU itself and this is not a new practice.

In its statement, NABU explained that the polygraph tests are proposed to be conducted not by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), but by NABU’s Internal Control Department (ICD), which conducts such tests for employees who have access to state secrets.

«This is an established internal practice of the Bureau — employees undergo polygraph tests during official investigations, appointments, and reappointments. In 2024, the Internal Control Department conducted over 200 such psychophysiological surveys», — the statement reads.

Thus, NABU emphasizes that the bill merely formalizes existing procedures and does not harm the independence of anti-corruption bodies.