Hundreds of Ukrainians protested in major cities as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a controversial law curbing the independence of anti-corruption agencies, drawing concern from European officials and civil society groups.
Protests grew across Ukraine on Tuesday night after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed into law a measure that curtails the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies. Demonstrations, including the largest since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, took place in Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, and Odesa.
Despite martial law and a night curfew, hundreds of civilians, war veterans, soldiers, and corruption watchdogs gathered in Kyiv, chanting “Veto! Veto! Veto!” outside Zelenskyy’s office. The president’s signature was the final step needed to enact the bill, which grants the politically appointed prosecutor general authority over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).
In a Telegram address early Wednesday, Zelenskyy defended the reforms, stating, “The anti-corruption infrastructure will work … NABU and SAPO will work.” He claimed the changes were intended to eliminate Russian infiltration, following allegations that some NABU agents had colluded with Russia. Critics, however, argue the evidence is murky and that the arrests are being used as a pretext to undermine independent oversight agencies.
The European Commission voiced “serious concern” over the parliamentary vote, marking a rare instance of public criticism of Kyiv from Brussels. Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos reported a “frank discussion” with Ukrainian leaders over “serious concerns over the latest Rule of Law developments.” Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius cautioned that, “In war, trust between the fighting nation and its leadership is more important than modern weapons — difficult to build and to keep, but easy to lose with one significant mistake by the leadership.”
Meaghan Mobbs, daughter of US Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg, called the lawmakers’ decision “mind-bogglingly stupid” and a gift to critics of further military aid for Ukraine.
The law was originally proposed by members of Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People party to change the criminal code on pretrial investigations during martial law, but last-minute amendments targeting the anti-corruption watchdogs triggered a nationwide backlash.
Despite public outrage and calls for a veto, the parliament’s website confirmed on Tuesday evening that Zelenskyy had signed the bill into law.
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