Zelenskyy faces protests against anti-corruption supervision bill in Ukraine
On Tuesday, thousands of people gathered in Kiev and other cities in Ukraine, urging the president to veto a controversial bill that threatens anti-corruption infrastructure. It marked the first major rally against the government in more than three years of the war.
Ukraine’s parliament has passed legislation that would strengthen oversight of two major anti-corruption agencies, which critics say could significantly weaken its independence and make President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s circle even better than the investigation. According to the Council’s website, Zelenskyy signed the bill into law.
Fighting deep-rooted corruption is crucial to Ukraine joining the EU and maintaining opportunities for billions of dollars in Western aid. The passage of the legislation has aroused public outrage in Ukraine, which some say appears to be greater than Russia’s conventional Russian drone and missile strikes.
These changes will grant prosecutors new powers in general, including investigations and cases handled by the National Anti-Corruption Agency of Ukraine (NABU) and the dedicated Office of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor (SAPO).
“In fact, if the bill becomes law, the head of SAPO will become a nominal number and Nab will lose its independence and turn it into a breakdown of the Attorney General’s office,” the agency said in a joint statement in the telegraph.
In an article on X, EU’s expansion commissioner Marta Kos expressed concern about the vote in parliament, called RADA, calling it a “serious step back”.
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Kos added: “Independent institutions like Nabu & Sapo are crucial to Ukraine’s EU path. The rule of law remains the center of EU accession negotiations.”
Although rallies were held during the Ukrainian war, they focused mainly on the return of prisoners of war or missing persons. However, protest remains a traditional form of public pressure in Ukraine, where two previous revolutions have won public victories.
“Corruption is a problem for any country and must always fight,” said blogger and activist Ihor Lachenkov.
“In this war, Ukraine has much less resources than Russia,” he said. “If we abuse them, or worse, let them eventually get into the thief’s pocket, our chances of victory will be reduced. All our resources must be used for combat.”
Ukraine’s Transparency International Branch criticized the parliament’s decision, saying it undermined one of the most important reforms since Ukraine called its dignity revolution since the 2014 revolution and the damage to trust with international partners.
The group urged Zelenskyy to veto the law, warning that otherwise he would be responsible for “demolition of Ukraine’s anti-corruption infrastructure.”
Many protesters held signs that read “veto the law”, “protect the anti-corruption system, protect the future of Ukraine”, or simply “we oppose.”
The anger and frustration of the war-ridden Ukrainians prevailed in the crowd. Some protesters accuse Ukraine leaders of prioritizing loyalty and personal connections over fighting against corruption.
“Those who vow to protect the law and the constitution choose to cover up their inner circle, even at the expense of Ukrainian democracy,” said veteran Oleh Symoroz, who was in a wheelchair after his legs were amputated after being injured in 2022.
“The president did not set a role model with zero tolerance for corruption, but used his power to control criminal cases involving allies,” he said.
Ukraine’s internal security agency detained two Nab officials on Monday on suspicion of contact with Russia and searched other agency employees without charges.
Zelenskyy’s office did not respond to a request for comment. Last week, the president reorganized his wartime cabinet, a move widely regarded as a further consolidation within his inner circle.
& Copy 2025 Canadian Press
