Following widespread protests on Tuesday night in several Ukrainian cities against the sudden abolition of the independence of key anti-corruption bodies, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is now moving to mitigate the situation.
In his daily video address, Zelenskyy announced plans for new legislation to ensure the independence of these organisations and address protesters’ concerns.
He doubled down on an earlier accusation that the anti-corruption agencies were under Russian influence, but promised the new law would prevent this, although he provided no details.
The law, hastily passed by the Ukrainian parliament on Tuesday, places the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) under the direct authority of the Prosecutor General, appointed by Zelenskyy.
The President signed the law that same evening, and it took effect upon publication.
Critics suspect the swift legal change is aimed at shielding high-ranking officials close to Zelenskyy from anti-corruption measures and fear it may jeopardise Ukraine’s rapprochement with the EU.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has already requested explanations from Kyiv, and there have been expressions of concern from the G7 and OECD.
