NABU Director's Rebuttal to Critics
At a press conference on February 10, 2026, Semen Kryvonos, Director of Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), responded to criticism regarding the agency's economic efficiency. He stressed that evaluating NABU's work solely by the amount of funds recovered is misguided. Kryvonos noted that while the bureau's annual budget is UAH 2.6 billion, critics cite only UAH 600 million in recoveries, a figure he called a distorted metric. This debate highlights the ongoing challenge of measuring the effectiveness of anti-corruption institutions in post-Maidan Ukraine.
The Need for a Broader Perspective
Kryvonos pointed out that corruption cases are also actively investigated by other law enforcement agencies, including:
- The State Bureau of Investigation (DBR)
- The National Police of Ukraine
- The Bureau of Economic Security (BEB)
He stated that the figures cited by critics are often taken out of context and fail to show the full picture.
"We recover significant funds through restitution and plea agreements. However, the numbers critics publicize are frequently isolated from the broader context and do not reflect the complete situation," said Kryvonos.
The NABU director also commented on the ongoing 'Midas' case, confirming the pre-trial investigation is still active. He announced the bureau is preparing an extradition request to Israel for suspects involved. As part of the 'Midas' proceedings, substantial assets posted as bail have been frozen. Kryvonos questioned the logic of comparing NABU's operational costs directly to recovered funds, asking:
"Is NABU's primary mission to justify its economic cost-effectiveness—to return to the state exactly what is spent on detectives' salaries, fuel, or stationery? Do other law enforcement agencies evaluate their work in this same narrow way?"
In conclusion, the NABU chief emphasized that the bureau's performance cannot be judged by financial metrics alone, as preventive effects and overall effectiveness in fighting corruption are equally vital.
Kryvonos's remarks underscore the importance of a comprehensive approach to assessing anti-corruption bodies. Success in combating corruption cannot always be quantified merely by financial returns like recovered assets. Given the complex challenges Ukraine faces in this arena, it is crucial to consider other factors, such as crime prevention and maintaining public trust in law enforcement institutions.