Thousands of Ukrainians demonstrated against the passing of a controversial bill threatening anti-corruption infrastructure in their country.
Ukraine’s parliament passed the legislation that will roll back the autonomy of two key anti-corruption agencies, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed it into law, according to the parliament’s website late Tuesday.
Ukrainians took to the streets in cities like Kyiv and Lviv to protest against the bill earlier that day, marking the first major demonstration against the government in more than three years of war.
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Many carried banners reading “Protect the anti-corruption system, protect Ukraine’s future” or “We are against it”.
“Corruption is a problem in any country, and it must always be fought,” said Ihor Lachenkov, a blogger and activist who asked his more than 1.5million social media followers to join the protest.
“Ukraine has far fewer resources than Russia in this war,” he said. “If we misuse them, or worse, allow them to end up in the pockets of thieves, our chances of victory diminish. All our resources must go toward the fight.”
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Critics said the new legislation could significantly weaken the agencies’ independence and give Mr Zelenskyy’s circle more sway over anti-corruption investigations.
Some protesters said that the bill’s passage appeared to be a greater moral blow than the regular Russian drone and missile attacks, while others accused Ukraine’s leadership of prioritising loyalty and personal connections over the fight against corruption.
Under the amendments, the prosecutor general – who has been appointed by Mr Zelenskyy – will gain strict control over investigations and cases handled by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).
The changes would also allow the prosecutor general to transfer cases from the agencies and reassign prosecutors.
The agencies said this will cause the head of SAPO to “become a nominal figure, while NABU will lose its independence and turn into a subdivision of the prosecutor general’s office”.
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The passing of the bill could also impact Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union, as fighting entrenched corruption is crucial both for EU ambitions and maintaining the war-torn country’s access to billions of pounds in Western aid.
The EU’s Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos expressed concern over the vote in parliament, labelling it “a serious step back”.
She added: “Independent bodies like NABU & SAPO are essential for Ukraine’s EU path.”
Mr Zelenskyy, whose party holds a majority in parliament, said in his nightly address on Tuesday that anti-corruption bodies would continue to function “but without any Russian influence”.
“It all must be cleansed. There must be more justice. Of course, NABU and SAPO will continue their work,” he said.
“It’s also important that the prosecutor general be committed to ensuring real accountability for those who break the law. This is what Ukraine truly needs.”
The Ukrainian president said on Wednesday that he had gathered all heads of Ukraine’s law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies, along with the prosecutor general, for a “frank and constructive conversation that truly helps”.
“We all hear what society is saying. We see what people expect from state institutions – ensured justice and the effective functioning of each institution,” he wrote on X.
“We discussed the necessary administrative and legislative decisions that would strengthen the work of each institution, resolve existing contradictions, and eliminate threats. Everyone will work together. At the political level, we will provide support.”
Mr Zelenskyy added that there with be an “in-depth working meeting on the joint action plan” next week, with the plan expected to be ready in two weeks.
Following the meeting, the two anti-corruption agencies called for their independence to be restored and said that “clear and unambiguous steps at the level of the law are necessary, which will return the guarantees cancelled by the parliament”.
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France’s European Affairs minister, Benjamin Haddad, said on Wednesday that it was “not too late” for Ukraine to reverse its decision.
“We will be extremely vigilant on the subject,” he told France Inter radio.
