Backlash Intensifies as Zelensky’s Anti-Corruption Agencies Lose Independence

Ukraine's government faces significant unrest and disappointment from citizens and allies after President Zelensky limits control over key anti-corruption agencies.

In a dramatic escalation of public dissent, thousands of Ukrainians took to the streets of Kyiv and other cities this week to protest President Volodymyr Zelensky's recent decision to sign a law that undermines the independence of two pivotal anti-corruption bodies: the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (Sap). The contentious legislation, approved by a significant majority in Parliament, places these agencies under the oversight of the prosecutor general, a position appointed by the president himself.

Gathering for the second consecutive night, demonstrators carried placards denouncing the government's actions such as "Corruption lives – the future dies," and "12414 [the new law] sounds like 1984," highlighting fears that the move signals a regression to the pro-Russian governance associated with former President Viktor Yanukovych. Zelensky, addressing the mounting dissatisfaction, acknowledged the protests and promised to propose a new bill to Parliament, although details remain unclear.

Criticism has not only emerged domestically, with Kyiv’s Western allies expressing their alarm. European Commission representatives sought clarifications from the Ukrainian government, emphasizing that adherence to the rule of law and anti-corruption measures are fundamental to Ukraine's aspirations for EU integration. As protests spread from larger cities like Kyiv to Odesa and Lviv, many citizens voiced deep concern that Zelensky's actions could jeopardize nearly a decade of progress toward European relations, in stark contrast to the country's ongoing battle against Russian aggression.

The legislation's implications raise significant questions about the future autonomy and effectiveness of Nabu and Sap, agencies established as part of Ukraine's commitments to the European Union and the International Monetary Fund in response to widespread corruption. Previously, these institutions had achieved notable successes in tackling graft, but now there are fears they will be compromised under direct presidential influence.

Prominent figures, including war veterans and civil society leaders, showed their solidarity with the protesters, asserting that the fight against both foreign adversaries and internal governmental overreach was critical for the country's democracy. The atmosphere in Ukraine remains charged, with events unfolding in the backdrop of ongoing conflict and external pressures to maintain democratic integrity amid wartime conditions.