Ukraine protests Zelenskyy's anti-corruption law
Hundreds of people protested on Tuesday evening in central Kyiv and other major Ukrainian cities like Lviv, Dnipro, and Odesa, after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law that significantly reduces the independence of the country's main anti-corruption institutions – the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), Politico reports.
These are the most extensive protests in Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022.
The demonstrators – including civilians, war veterans, soldiers, and activists – chanted "Veto! Veto! Veto!" and demanded the annulment of the legislative changes which, in their opinion, gravely undermine the fight against corruption. The protests took place despite martial law restrictions.
The new law, adopted as a matter of urgency by the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) and signed by Zelenskyy on Tuesday, gives the Prosecutor General – a political appointee – direct control over NABU and SAPO investigations. In practice, the Prosecutor General will be able to take over any case handled by NABU, will have the final say in cases within their jurisdiction, and can decide to close cases against high-ranking officials.
"This is a malicious law that saps our will to fight. We are losing territories, and those in power are voting for their own protection," stated war veteran Oleksandr Teren.
Protesters warned that the legislative changes undermine the independence of the anti-corruption structures established after the Revolution of Dignity and could jeopardize Ukraine's relations with the European Union and financial support from the West.
Harsh criticism also came from Brussels. The European Commission stated it was "seriously concerned," and a spokesperson warned that EU support for Ukraine is contingent on real progress in the fight against corruption. G7 ambassadors and U.S. representatives also voiced criticism of the decision.
According to analysts, the law was voted on quickly after the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Prosecutor General's Office, and other structures loyal to the Zelenskyy administration conducted an "operation" against the anti-corruption agencies, alleging – without clear evidence – that they were influenced by Russia.
The law had been officially proposed to regulate investigations related to missing persons under special circumstances during the war. However, amendments directly targeting NABU and SAPO were inserted at the last minute.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
