Ukraine’s government is facing intense domestic and international backlash after President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a controversial law weakening the independence of two key anti-corruption agencies—the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (Sap). The new law transfers oversight of these bodies to the prosecutor general, who is appointed by the president.
Thousands of protesters filled Kyiv’s streets for a second consecutive night, accusing the government of undermining anti-corruption progress and threatening Ukraine’s aspirations to join the European Union. Demonstrations also erupted in other cities, including Lviv, Dnipro, Sumy, and Odesa, despite ongoing threats from Russian airstrikes.
Critics say the law represents a return to pre-2014 levels of corruption, recalling the era of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. Many demonstrators held signs that read “Shame,” “12414 sounds like 1984,” and “Parliament is full of parasites,” expressing anger at what they view as a slide toward authoritarianism.
Zelensky defended the bill, saying Nabu and Sap had allowed key corruption cases to stagnate and were vulnerable to Russian influence. Still, amid growing dissent, he pledged to introduce new legislation in response to public concerns, though he did not outline specific changes.
The European Commission and Ukraine’s Western allies voiced disapproval. EU officials stressed that the independence of anti-corruption bodies is a fundamental condition for Ukraine’s EU membership bid. Germany and France urged Kyiv to reverse the decision, warning it jeopardizes Ukraine’s European integration.
For many Ukrainians, the legislation is seen as a betrayal of democratic ideals for which thousands have fought and died since Russia’s 2022 invasion.
