NABU and SAP Refute the Suspicion Against Krivonos and Call Kravchenko's Statements a Continuation of the Attack on Anti-Corruption Bodies

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) publicly reacted to the statements of Prosecutor General Iryna Kravchenko, describing the unfolding situation as a continuation of systemic pressure on independent anti-corruption bodies. The agency emphasized that the current episode is part of a longer campaign, the active phase of which, according to NABU's assessment, began last summer. At that time, as the Bureau notes, one of the key objectives of its opponents was an attempt to place NABU and SAP under the direct subordination of the Office of the Prosecutor General, which, in their view, would have undermined the institutional independence of the anti-corruption system.

Refuting the Suspicion Against Krivonos and the Seizure of Cases

Separately, NABU refuted information about procedural actions against the Bureau's director Sviatoslav Krivonos: as of the time of the statement, he had not been officially served with a suspicion. The Bureau also stated that it had not seized the criminal cases referred to in the Prosecutor General's statements, and emphasized that reports of such a seizure do not correspond to reality. The agency added that its work is not connected with political struggle, and that Kravchenko's statements, who recently submitted his resignation, currently have a public rather than procedural character. NABU separately noted that it has never sought special guarantees for its employees or other persons, and concluded the statement with the phrase "more detailed information — soon."

Chronology of the "Carthage" Case

The context for the confrontation was the special operation "Carthage," which NABU and SAP announced on September 4: according to the investigation, a criminal organization operated within the Office of the Prosecutor General, ensuring the unimpeded operation of a network of fraudulent call centers in exchange for bribes and laundering property acquired with illegally obtained funds. On September 6, Kravchenko publicly stated that he was not involved in the group's activities and ordered the removal of the suspected Office employee and an inspection of the relevant department. On September 8, Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with the Prosecutor General and the heads of NABU and SAP; following the conversation, Kravchenko submitted his resignation, and the corresponding recommendation was sent to the Verkhovna Rada.

Contradictory Data

Here, the versions of the parties diverge significantly. On the one hand, NABU categorically denies that Sviatoslav Krivonos was served with a suspicion and states that no criminal cases were seized. On the other hand, a number of sources (in particular, the outlet theotherukraine.info) report that the Prosecutor General signed a suspicion against NABU director Krivonos, which directly contradicts the Bureau's position. Moreover, according to sources citing "Ukrainska Pravda," Kravchenko left Ukraine and crossed the border in an official car, and President Zelenskyy publicly stated that Kravchenko must be dismissed. Thus, the factual picture — regarding the service of the suspicion, the seizure of cases, and the actual status of the Prosecutor General — is currently not unambiguous and requires additional verification.

Personnel Changes in the Prosecutor's Office

Against the backdrop of the "Carthage" case investigation, three more personnel decisions in the prosecutor's office became known on September 9: Mariia Vdovychenko left the post of First Deputy Prosecutor General, and Viktoria Didych and Maksym Shchompel were dismissed from the Cherkasy Regional Prosecutor's Office. These changes, along with Kravchenko's resignation, intensified the public confrontation between the anti-corruption bodies and the Office of the Prosecutor General and turned it into one of the central political stories of the week.