The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) has initiated a pre-trial investigation after surveillance equipment was discovered in the residence of a department head within the agency. This incident raises concerns about potential unauthorized information gathering.
The investigation was prompted by reports from a neighbor who claimed that individuals identifying themselves as law enforcement approached him, alleging that a Russian spy resided in the apartment below. One of the individuals was identified as an active employee of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). This particular NABU detective is involved in several high-profile corruption cases, including those related to customs violations and the activities of certain law enforcement personnel and state enterprises.
NABU emphasized that any attempts to illegally gather information on its staff are unacceptable and could jeopardize the agency’s independence and the effectiveness of its anti-corruption investigations. The SBU has yet to comment on the situation.
Earlier this year, NABU reported similar findings involving another department head who investigates corruption in the defense sector. In that instance, it was noted that attempts to install surveillance devices were made by personnel from a law enforcement agency, although the specific agency was not disclosed. The head of that department is part of a team working on the ‘Midas’ case, which involves allegations of fraud in the procurement of drones.
This is not the first time NABU has raised concerns about attempts to undermine its independence. In July of the previous year, the SBU announced an investigation into potential Russian influence over NABU’s operations, implicating a regional bureau head.
Additionally, on July 22 of last year, the Ukrainian Parliament backed a bill that limited the independence of NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP). This legislative change sparked protests in Ukraine and drew concern from international partners. Subsequently, President Volodymyr Zelensky introduced a new bill aimed at enhancing the powers of NABU and SAP, which was approved by Parliament and signed into law.
The NABU has opened an investigation after surveillance equipment was found in the home of one of its leaders, raising serious concerns about unauthorized information gathering. This incident follows previous allegations of attempts to undermine the bureau's independence amid ongoing corruption investigations.