Civil society organizations called on Zelenskyy to stop using the justice system for political reprisals against government critic Vitalii Shabunin
Over 50 civil society organizations have appealed to the President of Ukraine, the Prosecutor General, and the Director of the State Bureau of Investigation, demanding an end to the use of the justice system for political reprisals and persecution of government critics. In particular, NGOs condemned the July 11, 2025 searches targeting Vitaliy Shabunin, head of the Anti-Corruption Action Centre and a serviceman of the 43rd Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The statement was also published by the Human Rights Centre ZMINA.
Vitaliy ShabuninOn July 11, 2025, the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) searched Vitaliy Shabunin’s home, the home of the co-founder of the non-governmental organization Anti-Corruption Action Centre.
At the time of the investigative actions, Shabunin was a sergeant serving in the 43rd Separate Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to his lawyer, Olena Shcherban, the searches were carried out by the SBI at several addresses: at his place of registration in Kyiv, where Vitaliy’s family with young children currently lives, and at his place of service in the Chuhuiv district of the Kharkiv region.
In addition, these searches were preceded by a prolonged and systematic smear campaign against Shabunin via anonymous Telegram channels.
According to the Anti-Corruption Action Centre, the investigative actions were conducted with numerous violations by the SBI, which were recorded by lawyers who arrived at the scene after the fact:
- The absence of court orders;
- The organization of searches in such a way that lawyers were unable to arrive on time and take measures to ensure that rights were respected;
- The absence of video recording of the process of seizing equipment and items that could be used in the future for further discrediting;
- The seizure of items unrelated to the subject of the criminal proceeding, among other legal breaches.
Mobile phones were taken from Vitaliy Shabunin and his relatives, and even children’s tablets were seized.
The SBI served Shabunin with a notice of suspicion for “evasion of military service” and “fraud” (under Part 4 of Article 409 and Part 2 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code).
The statement’s signatories recalled that Shabunin voluntarily enlisted in the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the first days of the full-scale invasion. He served in various regions of Ukraine, stationed with his military unit in accordance with official orders issued by the command.
The Ukrainian NGOs pointed out that the SBI’s accusations of Shabunin’s alleged evasion of service are based on the period when Shabunin was on official assignment to the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) in accordance with an official order from the command. Such assignments of military personnel to state authorities and institutions are not unique. During his assignment to the NACP, Shabunin received standard financial support as a military serviceman in accordance with the applicable legislation, without any “combat” payments.
It is outlined in the statement that the legislation did not require Shabunin to undertake any special actions in the event of an assignment: his task was to go on the assignment in accordance with the order. The issue of whether or not a serviceman receives payments does not depend on his personal will, nor is he responsible for processing such payments. These matters are regulated by the state, and if it considers that an unjustified payment has been made, a civil law institution exists through which a claim for the return of funds may be filed.
Therefore, Vitaliy Shabunin is being suspected of committing actions carried out by state bodies because a military serviceman does not decide how much he should be paid and by whom; he is a subordinate who, while in service, is in the “hands” of the state and dependent on it.
The statement’s signatories called the SBI’s official press release manipulative. It contains a manipulative reference to the use of a volunteer car. However, according to the Anti-Corruption Action Centre, this claim was not included in the notice of suspicion, as this practice is legal and widely used in the Defence Forces.
Moreover, private donors had previously explained publicly that the purchase was made with funds from the CEO Club and that the car was transferred specifically for the needs of military serviceman Shabunin. Since the donors who financed the purchase of the car do not believe that their rights have been violated and have not appealed to any law enforcement agencies to restore their rights, the latter have no legal grounds to accuse the serviceman of using a car that is not owned by a state body or military unit.
Thus, the NGOs concluded that the actions of the pre-trial investigation bodies can be considered either as complete incompetence of officials and unsuitability for their positions, or as a deliberate attack aimed at putting pressure on Vitaliy Shabunin, who continued to criticize the work of state bodies while serving in the military.
The statement’s signatories pointed out that this criminal prosecution shows signs of being politically motivated and constitutes an abuse of law.
“It has been carried out in violation of Ukraine’s obligations under Article 18 (Limitation on use of restrictions on rights) of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, in conjunction with Article 6 (Right to a fair trial) and Article 10 (Freedom of expression) of the said Convention,” the statement reads.
The representatives of the Ukrainian civil society highlighted that this prosecution is yet another episode in a long history of attacks against Shabunin personally and against the Anti-Corruption Action Centre he heads, which have been ongoing since 2016.
“We, the undersigned representatives of human rights, anti-corruption organizations and other civil society groups, appeal to the President of Ukraine, the Prosecutor General and the Director of the SBI to prevent the justice system from being used for political reprisals and persecution of government critics,” stated the Ukrainian NGOs.
The statement was signed by, including:
- Human Rights Centre ZMINA
- Institute of Mass Information
- Anti-corruption center “MEZHA”
- The Anti-Corruption Headquarters
- “Holka” (NGO “The Needle”)
- Centre for Economic Strategy
- NGO “Human rights platform”
- Kharkiv Anti-Corruption Centre
- Media Initiative for Human Rights
- DEJURE Foundation
- National NGO “Institute Of Political Education”
- All-Ukrainian Association “Automaidan”
- NGO “Women’s Anticorruption Movement”
- International Centre for Ukrainian Victory (ICUV)
- The Center for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM)
- Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research
- NGO “Zaporizhzhia Investigations Centre”
- Centre of Investigative Reporting “The Power of Truth”
- Public Control Platform
- ANTS – National Interests Advocacy Network
- Civil Network OPORA
- Bihus.Info
- The CHESNO movement
- CASE Ukraine – Center for Social and Economic Research
- NGO “MINZMIN”
- Anti-corruption Research and Education Centre (ACREC)
- Human rights initiative “Pravotvorets”
- Transparency International Ukraine
- NGO “Crimean Process”
- NGO “Zero Waste Lviv”
- NGL.media
- NGO “Ukrainian LGBT+ Military and Veterans for Equal Rights”
- NGO “Local Development and Reforms Center”
- NGO “Social Capital”
- NGO “Rivne Social Partnership Centre” (Initiative “For Fair Tenders”)
- Information and Analytical Centre “Civic Space”
- NGO “Proactive Community”
- NGO “Civic Control Coordination Centre”
- Civic Union “Human Rights House Crimea”
- Open Data Association
- National Charitable Organisation “Ukrainian Legal Aid Foundation”
- NGO “Centre of Law Enforcement Activities Research”
- StateWatch Analytical Centre
- NGO “Genealogical Community “Arkhisovist”
- NGO “People’s Will” (“Volia Hromady”)
- NGO “Institute of Legislative Ideas”
- NGO “Civil holding “GROUP OF INFLUENCE”
- NGO “Centre of Policy and Legal Reform”
- Kremenchuk Anti-corruption Centre
- NGO “ZORAX”
- NGO “Ecosphere”
- NGO “Green Leaf”
- NGO “RIPO Patriot”
- NGO “Coalition of Culture Actors”
- International Renaissance Foundation
- NGO “BCD”
- Educational Human Rights House Chernihiv
- Lobby X
- Ukrainian Legal Advisory Group (ULAG)
