This was stated in a joint declaration issued by NABU and SAPO.“As of now, NABU and SAPO have been stripped of the safeguards that previously enabled them to carry out their functions and combat high-level corruption effectively. Restoring fully independent operations will require clear and unambiguous legislative steps to reinstate the guarantees repealed by Parliament,” the statement reads.At the same time, NABU and SAPO reaffirmed their commitment to serving the Ukrainian people and preserving the professional integrity of both institutions, along with the results they have achieved over years of work.“The rule of law and adherence to legal principles remain core values for NABU and SAPO. We expect the same commitment from all other law enforcement bodies,” the statement continued.The anti-corruption leaders thanked the Ukrainian public for their active support, principled stance, and civic engagement. NABU and SAPO also called on international partners to continue supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.“The strength and resilience of Ukraine’s Defense Forces, the unity of Ukrainian society, and consistent international backing are key to defeating the aggressor and securing a European future for our country,” the statement concluded.Background: Law No. 12414 and its impact on anti-corruption institutionsOn July 22, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a bill passed by the Verkhovna Rada that includes provisions limiting the powers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), placing their activities under the authority of the Prosecutor General.The bill’s status card was updated three times: initially marked as signed by the president, then the note disappeared, and later the signature of Zelenskyy reappeared.The bill in question, No. 12414, introduces changes to the Criminal Code. Proposed amendments would give the Prosecutor General the authority to:remove cases from NABU and assign them to other agencies;act as the de facto head of SAP and delegate its powers to other prosecutors;issue binding written instructions to NABU detectives;unilaterally close investigations involving top officials.The amendments also restrict the operations of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). Specifically, SAPO prosecutors will, in certain cases, be unable to determine whether a case falls under NABU’s jurisdiction. The SAP head will lose the authority to resolve jurisdictional disputes over cases that NABU could investigate and will no longer have the power to amend appellate or cassation complaints submitted by SAP prosecutors.Following the bill’s signing, President Zelenskyy stated that NABU and SAPO would continue their work and that the Prosecutor General is committed to ensuring real accountability.After the vote in the Verkhovna Rada, thousands of Ukrainians in major cities held peaceful protests, demanding that the president veto the law that significantly limits the powers of the anti-corruption agencies.On July 23, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a high-level meeting with the heads of Ukraine’s law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies, following public protests sparked by a newly signed law that critics say undermines the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).Following the meeting, Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) head Vasyl Maliuk said the SBU operates strictly within the law and is committed to equality before the law. He also commented that NABU is undergoing an internal "cleansing" process.Separately, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has warned Kyiv that weakening NABU and SAPO could have serious consequences — specifically, it could jeopardize defense-related investments and international funding for Ukraine’s reconstruction.