New Law Sparks Backlash Across Ukraine and Raises Alarm Among Western Allies
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is facing a wave of public protests and international criticism after signing a controversial bill that significantly alters the structure and independence of Ukraine’s key anti-corruption agencies.
The new legislation grants the prosecutor general sweeping authority over both the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP)—two bodies established with Western backing to combat entrenched corruption. Critics warn the law could compromise ongoing investigations and reduce accountability at a critical time for Ukraine’s democratic development.
In a televised address, Zelensky defended the bill, saying it was necessary to “clear Russian influence” from Ukraine’s justice system and end years of “dormant” corruption cases.
“There is no rational explanation for why criminal proceedings worth billions have been hanging for years,” he stated.
However, the response on the streets told a different story. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Kyiv, marking the largest anti-government protest since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Protests also broke out in Lviv, Dnipro, and Odesa, with slogans like “We chose Europe, not autocracy” and “My father did not die for this” resonating through city squares.
The law hands increased power to Chief Prosecutor Ruslan Kravchenko, a Zelensky ally, who can now reassign or even shut down corruption cases—raising fears of political interference. The day before the vote, Ukraine’s Security Service and prosecutors arrested alleged Russian operatives within NABU, a move that many see as a pretext for curtailing the agency’s authority.
The backlash has extended far beyond Ukraine’s borders. The European Union and G7 ambassadors expressed concern over what they view as a rollback of anti-corruption safeguards.
“The dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU’s independence is a serious step back,” said European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos.
The anti-corruption agencies were central to Ukraine’s EU accession efforts and a precondition for billions in financial aid from the EU and its Western allies. Many fear that undermining them could jeopardize Ukraine’s standing and credibility on the international stage.
Still, Ukrainian officials have tried to reassure partners. Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka claimed that “all core functions remain intact,” while denying any compromise on Ukraine’s commitment to transparency and reform.
Former foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba took a different tone, calling it “a bad day for Ukraine” and warning that Zelensky now faces a defining choice: “to stand with the people or not.”
For now, Western allies are unlikely to scale back military or humanitarian support, given the ongoing war against Russia, but calls for a reassessment of democratic safeguards in Kyiv are growing louder.