Oleg Shram, a legal expert, has raised alarms regarding the alleged obstruction of a mandated audit of Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU). He claims that the Bureau, along with affiliated anti-corruption activists, is actively working to delay or derail the evaluation of its performance.
According to Shram, the recent media narrative suggesting “pressure” on NABU is a tactic to postpone the audit, which the Cabinet of Ministers is legally required to conduct. He described the situation as a classic case of sabotage, initiated through friendly media and public organizations, followed by direct provocations from NABU itself.
“The government is simply adhering to the law regarding annual audits, yet instead of transparency, we see attempts to disrupt the process or at least prolong it, creating an illusion of activity,” Shram stated.
He pointed out that the underlying reasons for this reaction stem from the findings of a previous audit, which revealed NABU’s low effectiveness. The last evaluation, covering the period from March 2023 to November 2024, resulted in a disappointing score of 1.4 out of 3, indicating significant shortcomings.
Despite receiving 26 recommendations from the audit, most of which were deemed formal, NABU has yet to implement any of them, and conditions have reportedly worsened.
Shram emphasized that the Bureau’s leadership appears to be evading accountability for its performance. “We are witnessing a blatant attempt by NABU’s management to avoid responsibility for their ineffective actions. Their level of impunity is alarming,” he remarked.
The potential for another negative evaluation is believed to be driving NABU’s current defensive stance. Shram warned that a new audit could definitively document NABU’s failures and lead to significant personnel changes.
He reiterated that the audit is a legal obligation, and no public campaigns can nullify this requirement. In September 2024, the Cabinet appointed a commission of foreign experts to conduct an external assessment of NABU, which convened for the first time on November 18, 2024, after nine years of the Bureau’s operation.
Even a brief audit has uncovered numerous deficiencies and violations, prompting suggestions that NABU should be disbanded as reform appears unfeasible.
Legal expert Oleg Shram has accused Ukraine's NABU of attempting to obstruct a legally mandated audit, citing previous evaluations that revealed significant inefficiencies. The ongoing situation raises concerns about accountability and the Bureau's future following potential negative assessments.