One Year After the Attack on NABU and SAPO: ZMINA to Hold an Expert Discussion on the Protection of Anti-Corruption Actors
On 21 July 2026, ZMINA will hold a public expert discussion in Kyiv titled “One Year After the Attack on NABU and SAPO: How to Protect Anti-Corruption Actors” and present its analytical study.
A year ago, large-scale searches at the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) marked the beginning of a highly publicised attack on Ukraine’s anti-corruption infrastructure. The very next day, legislative initiatives emerged that aimed to limit the independence of NABU and SAPO. Thanks to public resistance and the response of (what kind)partners, the worst-case scenario was avoided. However, the consequences of those events are still being felt today, as some anti-corruption activists and officials still remain under persecution.
During the event, ZMINA will present its study, “Systemic Pressure on Anti-Corruption Actors: Practices of 2025–2026”, in which the team have analysed documented cases of criminal, institutional, political, and informational influence on anti-corruption actors in Ukraine from July 2025 to May 2026. Participants will discuss how these practices affect the work of NABU, SAPO, civil society, and the media, as well as which protection mechanisms may be effective.
The event is open to: representatives of anti-corruption bodies, civil society, parliament, the media, international partners, and civic initiatives.
Speakers:
- Semen Kryvonos, Director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine
- Oleksandr Klymenko, Head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office
- Alena Lunova, Advocacy Director at ZMINA Human Rights Centre
- Pavlo Demchuk, Senior Legal Adviser at Transparency International Ukraine
- Hanna Chekhovych, Project Manager at ZMINA Human Rights Centre
- Valeriia Naumenko, Documenter at ZMINA Human Rights Centre
- Maryna Demura, Lawyer and Analyst at ZMINA Human Rights Centre
- Olena Shcherban, Board Member of the Anti-Corruption Action Centre, lawyer, and attorney for Ruslan Magamedrasulov
- Vitaliy Shabunin, Chair of the Board of the Anti-Corruption Action Centre
- Yevhen Tokar, Head of a NABU detective unit
- Anastasiia Radina, Member of Parliament of Ukraine
- Mykhailo Tkach, Head of the Investigations Department at Ukrainska Pravda
- Zinaida Averina, an active participant in the July 2025 cardboard protests in support of NABU and SAPO
The presentation and discussion will be moderated by journalists Olena Trybushna and Vlasta Lazur.
Event language: Ukrainian. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided for English-speaking guests.
Registration: To attend the event, please fill out the registration form by 23:59 on 19 July 2026. The number of places is limited. After registration, the organisers will send a confirmation to the email address provided, including information about the venue.
