President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has enacted a contentious piece of legislation that significantly enhances the powers of Ukraine’s prosecutor general over independent anti-corruption bodies. This decision has sparked widespread protests across the nation, marking the largest demonstrations since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Observers anticipate further mobilizations as public dissent continues to grow.
The newly enacted law grants the prosecutor general the authority to oversee and reassign investigations conducted by the National Anticorruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). These institutions have long been viewed as cornerstones of Ukraine’s commitment to combatting high-level corruption following the Euromaidan protests, which called for increased transparency and democratic governance. Critics argue that this legislative move undermines the independence of these agencies, raising concerns that they may be co-opted for political purposes.
Demonstrations erupted in major cities such as Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, and Odesa, where protesters displayed slogans like “Veto the law” and “We chose Europe, not autocracy.” Many citizens perceive this move as a betrayal of Ukraine’s longstanding aspirations for democratic governance, transparency, and integration with the European Union.
Compounding the controversy, just one day prior to the law’s passage, Ukraine’s domestic security agency conducted arrests of two NABU officials on allegations of Russian affiliations, further intensifying skepticism regarding the integrity of these critical agencies. In a subsequent address, Zelenskyy rationalized the reforms by citing the infiltration of these bodies and the stagnation of multiple investigations involving significant sums.
Despite these justifications, watchdog organizations and international observers have expressed profound concern. Transparency International Ukraine highlighted that the new law dismantles essential safeguards, while EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos deemed it “a serious step back.” The European Union, along with G7 ambassadors and other Western allies, have emphasized that the autonomy of NABU and SAPO remains crucial for securing financial support and advancing Ukraine’s aspirations for EU membership.
As Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka reassured citizens that “all core functions remain intact,” a sense of disillusionment continues to permeate the public discourse. Dmytro Kuleba, the former foreign minister, reflected this sentiment by labeling it “a bad day for Ukraine.” The current situation presents Zelenskyy with a critical decision: uphold the trust of his constituents or risk alienating both domestic support and valuable Western partnerships.
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