Zelenskyy defends contested anti-corruption law changes
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday defended legislative changes removing the independence of two key anti-corruption bodies, sparking the first major protests in Ukraine since the start of Russia's invasion.
"We all share a common enemy: the Russian occupiers," Zelenskyy said after meeting with top law enforcement and anti-corruption officials.
"And defending the Ukrainian state requires a strong enough law enforcement system – one that ensures a real sense of justice," he added.
"We all hear what society is saying," he said, promising to "resolve existing issues."
The bill would place the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) under the direct authority of the prosecutor general, who is appointed by the president.
After meeting with Zelenskyy, NABU and SAPO repeated their criticism of the changes and said "unambiguous legislative steps are required to reinstate the guarantees revoked by parliament."
Zelenskyy signed off on the widely criticised law on Tuesday, the same day it was passed by parliament, prompting a steely response from the EU and G7.
The law sparked the first major protest in Kyiv since Russian troops invaded in 2022, with over 1,000 people taking part.
Large gatherings are banned under Ukraine's martial law.
While the government says the law will make the anti-corruption agencies function better, its critics say it consolidates power in Zelenskyy's hands.
Instead, supporters of the law warn that a political crisis over the legislation could work in Russia's favour by undermining unity in the country.
Commenting on the protests at a briefing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday said there was "a lot of corruption" in the country and the issue was "a sensitive topic" for Ukraine.
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