Rolling Back Reform: The Cabinet of President Zelenskyy Weakens the Anti-Corruption Strategy

Executive summary

The draft Anti-Corruption Strategy for 2026–2030 is set to exclude key reform provisions, including transparent competitive selection procedures with the participation of international experts for leadership positions in the State Bureau of Investigation, the National Police, and the Prosecutor General’s Office.

This information became known during a meeting held on 14 April 2026, attended by the Head of the Anti-Corruption Centre “MEZHA” Martyna Bohuslavets, together with the Vice Prime Minister for European Integration, Taras Kachka, and representatives of the expert community. It was further confirmed from internal sources of the Anti-Corruption Centre “MEZHA”.

The adoption of the Anti-Corruption Strategy without its key commitments would not merely
constitute a roll back of European integration reforms, but a strategic failure locked in until 2030.

I. Shadow Games by the Cabinet of Ministers

1. First Stage. On 7 January 2026, the NACP submitted the draft to all ministries for feedback. During this stage, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Internal Affairs raised critical comments, particularly regarding the strengthening of the institutional independence of the NABU, as well as competitive selection procedures for leadership positions in the National Police and the State Bureau of Investigation.
2. Distraction Maneuver. On 2 April, the official website of the NACP published the version of the document that had been submitted to the Government. This version preserved the reform provisions concerning competitive selection procedures for leadership positions in the SBI and the NPU, as well as merit-based selection for the position of Prosecutor General, as well as measures aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity of the NABU.
3. Shadow Roll Back. However, on 8 April 2026, following the public announcement of success, a Government Committee meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine took place, during which the NACP was directly required to remove the expected strategic outcomes related to addressing Problems 2.2.2 and 2.2.7. These concerned the introduction of merit-based competitive selection procedures for leadership positions in the National Police of Ukraine, the State Bureau of Investigation, and the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Thus, both public and international partners’ expectations were deliberately misled, while key
changes were adopted in a non-transparent manner.

II. Next Steps

1. In the near future, the Government is expected to submit a reduced version of the 2026–2030 Anti-Corruption Strategy to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, accompanied by calls for its urgent adoption as a European integration priority, with no room for delays. Any criticism is likely to be disregarded or countered with the argument that the Strategy cannot and should not cover all areas of reform.
2. Our team is firmly convinced that the political dependence of law enforcement agencies and the prosecution service is a primary factor generating corruption, and that this situation requires urgent priority action within the framework of implementing reforms under Chapters 23 and 24 of the EU accession negotiations.
3. We will appeal to Members of Parliament who have already demonstrated the courage to oppose Draft Law No. 12414, introduced by the President’s MPs, and who helped prevent the destruction of NABU and SAP, calling on them to ensure that the Anti-Corruption Strategy is not weakened and to reinstate the sections on the SBI, the National Police, and the Prosecutor General’s Office that were unilaterally removed by the Government.

This is the core Anti-Corruption Strategy, and it must not be weakened or deprived of its key reforms.

Key Amendments to the Anti-Corruption Strategy 2026–2030

In accordance with a direct instruction from the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the NACP introduced the following amendments to the Anti-Corruption Strategy 2026–2030.

1. The expected Strategic Result 2.2.2.2 has been excluded: Legislative definition of the grounds for expressing no confidence in the Prosecutor General, as well as the grounds for submitting a motion to the body responsible for disciplinary proceedings or to the High Council of Justice regarding the dismissal of the Prosecutor General from an administrative position.

At the same time, according to our sources, Expected Strategic Result 2.2.2.1 will also be excluded: Appointment to the position of Prosecutor General is carried out in accordance with the procedure established by the Constitution of Ukraine, with the involvement of a selection commission that provides recommendations to the President of Ukraine regarding potential candidates for this position”.

2. The Expected Strategic Result 2.2.7.1 has been excluded: A transparent, merit-based, and predictable procedure for selecting the Head of the National Police of Ukraine has been introduced, involving independent experts delegated by international partners, and the selection procedure for the Director of the State Bureau of Investigation has been improved, taking into account recommendations provided by the European Commission.