Disruption of Meeting to Elect Head of SAP Outrages Western Partners: Accusations Against Presidential Office and Zelensky's Reaction

Further US and EU support for Ukraine depends on the implementation of the reform.

On October 9 in Kyiv, a meeting to elect the head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) was disrupted because several members of the commission failed to attend the meeting.

This outraged the European Union and the United States, since their representatives had previously stated that continued support for Ukraine depends on the transparent election of the head of the SAP.

More details on the situation that has developed at the last moment, as well as on the reaction of Zelensky and the Anti-Corruption Center (ACC).

Meeting disrupted

As a result, the commission meeting to elect the head of the SAP did not take place due to the lack of the necessary quorum.

According to a statement by Vitaliy Shabunin, head of the Anti-Corruption Center, three commission members delegated by Presidential Office Deputy Head Andriy Yermak failed to attend the meeting.

Vitaliy Shabunin
head of the ACC

Today, the commission members appointed by Yermak (elected by the Verkhovna Rada) disrupted a key stage of the competition: the practical task. Elena Busol, Andriy Gudzhal, and Yevgeny Sobol, who are controlled by the Presidential Office, did not show up.

He also noted that the commission had set the date for the practical task in advance, a great deal of protocol and preparatory work had been done, and two finalist candidates had arrived for the meeting.

In the latest joint letter between US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian side committed to establishing an effective anti-corruption infrastructure, in particular to ensure a transparent competition for the position of head of the SAP.

In this case, Shabunin warned that such a situation of a failed vote and the inability to keep its own commitments could become a "starting point for critical problems in relations with the United States".

According to a source for Ukrainska Pravda, several commission members are blocking the selection process because they do not want an independent SAP.

Reaction from the US and EU

Some time after the failed vote, the US Embassy in Ukraine called the situation "incomprehensible and unjustified" and expressed deep disappointment on its own behalf as well as on behalf of the European Union.

The American side called on the selection commission to resume its work without further delays.

"Halting the selection process undermines the work of anti-corruption bodies created by Ukraine and its international partners," the Embassy emphasized.

A transparent election of a new SAP head that meets the selection criteria is also one of the criteria of the so-called mechanism for suspending visa-free travel by the European Union.

Zelensky's statement

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also expressed bewilderment at the situation and called on the commission to continue its work.

Volodymyr Zelensky
President of Ukraine

I have not heard adequate explanations for the delay in the competition to elect a new head of the SAP. Members of the competition commission must fulfill their duty, as required. 

The president also noted that the effectiveness of anti-corruption institutions is a priority for Ukraine.