Why investigations against lawmakers do not threaten democracy in Ukraine
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Ukraine is fighting two battles at once: resisting Russia's invasion and reforming its institutions to meet EU membership standards. When corruption investigations target sitting members of parliament, these two realities can appear contradictory. During wartime, prosecutions of lawmakers may seem to indicate institutional fragility. In fact, the opposite
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Opinion Why investigations against lawmakers do not threaten democracy in Ukraine by Oleksandr Klymenko March 31, 2026 4:30 PM 5 min read Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses parliamentarians at the Verkhovna Rada in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Oct. 16, 2024. (Press Service of the President of Ukraine / AP) Opinion Prefer on Google Oleksandr Klymenko Head of The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office Ukraine is fighting two battles at once: resisting Russia's invasion and reforming its institutions to meet EU membership standards. When corruption investigations target sitting members of parliament, these two realities can appear contradictory. During wartime, prosecutions of lawmakers may seem to indicate institutional fragility. In fact, the opposite is true. Investigating MPs during wartime is not a threat to Ukrainian democracy — it is evidence that the rule of law is finally reaching the country's political elite. Ukraine established specialized institutions — the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office — precisely to investigate corruption at the highest political levels. Such investigations, by putting an end to corrupt practices, naturally strengthen the resilience and potential of a country seeking to become part of a united Europe. What does the data show? Ukraine's parliament currently has 393 members. At present, 21 MPs, about 5% of the parliament, are suspects or defendants in NABU and SAPO cases. Over the course of this term, 41 lawmakers have faced corruption -related charges , affecting both members of government and opposition factions. These numbers suggest that NABU and SAPO investigations could hardly affect the Ukrainian parliament's overall functioning. Moreover, Ukrainian law generally provides bail as an alternative to detention in most corruption cases. As a result, MPs who face suspicions usually remain able to continue exercising their parliamentary duties. In some cases involving ...
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