Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office

The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office or SAPO is an independent structural unit of the General Prosecutor of Ukraine, and is primarily responsible for supporting and overseeing criminal investigations launched by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU). Role The office is legally empowered with: supervision over observance of laws during conducting of operational search activity of pre-trial investigation by the NABU; the maintenance of state prosecution in relevant proceedings; and the representation of the interests of a citizen or state in court in cases provided for by law and related to corruption or corruption-related offenses. In contrast to SAPO and NABU, the National Agency on Corruption Prevention aims at preventing corruption by creating an environment that discourages corruption and by proposing legislation. Creation The prospect of visa liberalization (visa-free travel to the Schengen Area) between Ukraine and the European Union was closely linked with the process of creating the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office.