Ukraine sees first major anti-government protests since start of war, as Zelensky moves to weaken anti-corruption agencies
Defiant crowds gathered in the capital Kyiv on Tuesday, as well as Lviv in the west, with smaller groups gathering in Dnipro in the east and Odesa in the south, after Ukraine's Parliament — the Verkhovna Rada — approved a bill that grants oversight of two key anti-corruption agencies to the prosecutor general, a politically appointed figure.
Critics say the move will hamper the two bodies, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), and take Ukraine further away from its dream of joining the European Union. The EU has made it clear to Kyiv that it must implement strong anti-graft measures if it wants to become a member. The Biden administration urged the Ukrainian government to do more to root out corruption in 2023.
Ukraine has long been seen as one of the most corrupt countries in Europe. Allegations of corruption have been wielded against some of the country's top officials, including several close allies of Zelensky – such as former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov.
The bill was fast-tracked through the parliament and signed into law by Zelensky late Tuesday. The Ukrainian leader said in his nightly address that both organizations would 'continue to work' but defending his move as a necessary step to rid the two agencies of 'Russian influence.' This came after Ukrainian authorities raided one of the bodies on Monday and arrested two of its employees 'on suspicion of working for Russian special services.'
He also criticized the previous system as leading to cases being stalled for years.
But opponents say the two agencies will no longer be able to operate independently because the new law gives the prosecutor general power to influence investigations and even shut cases down.
Criticism came from all corners of society. Former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba slammed the move in a statement, calling Tuesday a 'bad day for Ukraine.'
The move didn't go unnoticed on the frontlines, where the military is struggling to hold back Russian forces. Referring to corruption that the agencies were working to root out, Yegor Firsov, chief sergeant of a drone strike platoon, said on X that 'this is not a question of NABU or SAP. This is a question of barbarism,' adding that 'nothing is more demoralizing than seeing that while you are sitting in a trench, someone is robbing the country for which your brothers are dying.'
Responding to the criticism on Wednesday, Zelensky said 'everyone would work solely in a constructive manner to resolve existing issues, deliver greater justice, and truly protect the interests of Ukrainian society.'
The two agencies affected by the law, said in a joint statement on Wednesday that they were 'deprived of guarantees that previously enabled them to effectively carry out their tasks and functions in combating high-level corruption.' They called on the government to reverse the law.
Crucially for Kyiv, the criticism is coming from both inside and outside of Ukraine, including from some of the country's key Western allies.
The Ukrainian branch of Transparency International, a leading independent nonprofit group that monitors corruption around the world, previously urged Zelensky to veto the new law.
It said that the new law destroys Ukraine's independent anti-corruption institutions, which it said were 'one of the greatest achievements' since pro-European protests sparked the Revolution of Dignity in 2014 that ousted pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.
The two agencies were both founded after the revolution, specifically to tackle corruption among Ukraine's top political echelon.
NABU is in charge of investigation corruption allegations, passing them to SAPO to prosecute once it has gathered evidence. Transparency International also said the new law would undermine the trust of Ukraine's international partners, as a myriad of global organizations stepped in to criticize the law.
Marta Kos, European Union's top official in charge of the process of admitting new member states, said she was 'seriously concerned' over the law.
'The dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU's independence is a serious step back. Independent bodies like NABU & SAPO, are essential for (the) EU path. Rule of Law remains in the very center of EU accession negotiations,' Kos said on X.
Meanwhile, the American Chamber of Commerce said the move was disappointing. It said the law 'threatens the independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure and undermines trust in the country's anti-corruption efforts.'
The Agency for Legislative Initiatives (ALI), a leading Ukrainian think tank that focuses on democracy building and scrutinizes the work of the country's parliament, said in a statement that the new law is a '180-degree turn' in European integration efforts.
ALI said the law gives the Ukrainian prosecutor general 'nearly unlimited powers,' including the authority to transfer cases to different prosecutors and effectively block any investigations by pushing through administrative obstacles.
The prosecutors working for SAPO have gone through a rigorous selection process that included international expert advisors, ALI said, adding they have expertise that is unparalleled in other parts of the law enforcement system.
ALI also said that while the law purports to be a response to the war and the current extraordinary circumstances, it envisions the oversight of the top prosecutor to continue for three years after Ukraine's martial law is lifted.
Fighting rampant government corruption was Zelensky's main campaign pledge ahead of the 2019 election. A former comedian who played Ukraine's president on a hit TV show, Zelensky had zero political experience before his victory – but he tapped into voters' dismay on the issue.
During the war, Zelensky has fired a slew of senior Ukrainian officials over corruption allegations, and his government has instigated anti-corruption measures, including the National Anti-Corruption Strategy.
International organizations, including the EU, the United Nations and the Group of 7 have previously praised Zelensky's government for its anti-corruption efforts.
But those same organizations are now denouncing the new law – while its critics in Ukraine say Zelensky's campaign platform to rid the country of corruption was simply empty promises.
CNN's Victoria Butenko, Daria Tarasova-Markina and Max Saltman contributed reporting.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
44 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Trump Economic Adviser Says Tariffs 'Locked In' Despite Market Volatility
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, said on Sunday that President Donald Trump's administration will hold onto its current tariff rates on other countries despite market volatility, describing the measures as "final deals." Why It Matters Since the first introduction in early April, the Trump administration's tariffs have sparked widespread criticism from both sides of the aisle. They have also triggered sharp declines in financial markets and increased global economic uncertainty, with major indexes falling and international partners warning of reprisals. Hassett's statements during his interview appearance on NBC News' Meet the Press shows that the White House intends to hold steady on its tariffs even as economic data raises concerns about the impact they may have on growth, prices, and job creation as well as lasting consequences for global trade. What To Know Hassett confirmed to host Kristen Welker on Sunday that tariffs on America's largest trading partners—including the European Union (EU), Japan, and South Korea—were "more or less locked in," covering approximately 55 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP). "The president will decide what the president decides. But the president likes those deals. The Europeans like those deals, and they're absolutely historically wonderful deals," the economic adviser said. Hasset continued: "We've got Europe agreeing to open their markets to our products, so our farmers, our small businessmen, can sell stuff in Europe like they never could before, and they're letting us charge a 50 percent tariff, which is going to raise maybe about $100 billion a year." Asked whether market turmoil could prompt Trump to reconsider or adjust tariff rates, Hassett replied, "No, I would rule it out. Because these are the final deals." He dismissed the notion that financial market backlash or investor uncertainty would trigger a policy reversal, saying in part that "the markets have seen what we're doing and celebrated it." Hassett added: "So I don't see how that would happen." These comments come on the heels of Trump dramatically widening the trade war, imposing new tariffs ranging from 10 to 41 percent on 60 countries. Key trading partners lacking bilateral agreements faced sharply higher rates. Meanwhile, Japan, South Korea, and the EU secured negotiated rates. Meanwhile, the most recent jobs report showed U.S. employers adding 73,000 jobs in July, far lower than expected. This followed a disappointing trend in the latest months, as May and June job gains were also sharply downgraded. On Thursday, Trump signed an executive order reimposing the "reciprocal tariffs" that were first announced on April 2 or "Liberation Day." Markets have reacted negatively, with the S&P 500 closing down 1.6 percent on Friday—the worst drop since May, according to The New York Times. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett speaks to reporters after attending a meeting at the U.S. Capitol Building on April 28 in Washington, D.C. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett speaks to reporters after attending a meeting at the U.S. Capitol Building on April 28 in Washington, D.C. Photo byDeals Made South Korea will face a 15 percent tariff on its exports to the U.S. Trump announced a framework deal with Japan on July 22, including a 15 percent tariff on Japanese goods, down from a rate of 25 percent. The president said Japan would invest $550 billion into the U.S. and "open" its economy to American autos and rice. The U.S. and EU announced a deal on July 27 that includes a 15 percent tariff on 70 percent of EU goods entering the U.S., down from 30 percent. Trade officials from the U.S. and China, Asia's largest economy and the world's second-largest, met for two days in Stockholm last month after which China's top trade official said the two sides had agreed to work on extending an August 12 deadline. Trump's tariffs on Chinese goods previously totaled 145 percent and China's counter-tariffs on U.S. products reached 125 percent. Under a deal announced on May 8, the United Kingdom will face a 10 percent baseline tariff on its goods while Trump agreed to cut tariffs on British autos, steel and aluminum, among other pledges. The U.K. promised to reduce levies on U.S. products like olive oil, wine and sports equipment. A July 22 deal with the Philippines includes a 19 percent tariff. Under a July 15 agreement with Indonesia, its goods will face a 19 percent tariff. Vietnamese goods will face a 20 percent U.S. tariff under a deal announced on July 2. U.S. goods will enter Vietnam duty free. Canada and Mexico Shortly before the August 1 deadline, Trump said he would enter a 90-day negotiating period with Mexico, one of America's largest trading partners, with the current 25 percent tariff rates staying in place, down from the 30 percent he had threatened earlier. For Canada, the tariffs on its U.S.-bound products not covered by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement will rise to 35 percent from 25 percent, the White House said, as it blamed the higher tariffs on the smuggling of fentanyl over the northern border. However, Canada rebukes this, saying only tiny amounts of the drug are smuggled into the U.S. What People Are Saying President Donald Trump in his executive order on Thursday: "Other trading partners, despite having engaged in negotiations, have offered terms that, in my judgment, do not sufficiently address imbalances in our trading relationship or have failed to align sufficiently with the United States on economic and national-security matters." He continued: "There are also some trading partners that have failed to engage in negotiations with the United States or to take adequate steps to align sufficiently with the United States on economic and national security matters." Nate Silver, statistician and author, said in the Silver Bulletin on Sunday: "But for now, Republicans are the incumbent party — and if you ask me, tariffs and an economic slowdown are a far bigger threat to Trump's political capital than the distractions that often dominate the news cycle from day to day. We have more evidence now that the economy is slowing down, probably because of tariffs. And Trump's actions on Friday suggest he's scared to face the consequences." Jeffrey Frankel, economist and professor at the Harvard Kennedy School, told Newsweek Saturday: "Regarding policies enacted, Trump's tariffs may go down in history because the effects will be so bad and, much as the Smoot-Hawley tariff of 1930 did, may teach a generation or two about the harms of tariffs and the value of listening to warnings from professional economists, when they are virtually unanimous." What Happens Next? The tariff rates are set to go into effect on August 7.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Ukraine drone attack sparks fire in Russian resort city
Ukrainian drone attacks sparked a massive fire at an oil depot in a rare attack on the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Plumes of thick smoke rose above the city, forcing the airport to close and requiring more than 100 firefighters to tackle the blaze. The oil refinery was struck by debris from one of the estimated 93 Ukrainian drones flown into Russia overnight, including 60 over the Black Sea region. Sochi, which hosted the 2014 Olympic Winter Games and where Vladimir Putin once owned a holiday home, has witnessed only a limited number of Ukrainian attacks over the course of the war. However, the attack on Sunday appears to be part of a wider strategy to hit oil refineries and worsen potential gasoline shortages in Russia this month. Low domestic stocks, peak seasonal demand and repair work at domestic refineries are likely to choke the supply of gasoline in August, trade sources told Reuters on Friday. Russian authorities said that the Sochi drone attack was accompanied by Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries in the southern Russian cities of Ryazan, Penza and Voronezh. Ukraine's military said on Saturday that it had struck oil facilities inside Russia, including a major refinery, as well as a military airfield for drones and an electronics factory. Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces said they had hit the oil refinery in Ryazan, about 180 km (110 miles) south-east of Moscow, causing a fire on its premises. Also hit was the Annanefteprodukt oil storage facility in the Voronezh region that borders on northeastern Ukraine. Emergency officials reported that the fuel tank in Sochi had a capacity of 2,000 cubic metres (70,000 cubic feet), requiring 127 firefighters to tackle the blaze Tourists at the Black Sea city told the Russian news agency that they hid in underground passages as sirens blared in the resort city. 'There were a lot of explosions right next to us, orange flashes in the sky,' one shaken tourist told the Krasnodar TV channel. 'The sound was terrible, the siren was screaming… my hands are still trembling.' Some tourists, however, created videos of themselves posing in front of the fire lip-syncing to a popular rap song. Andrey Prushunin, the mayor of Sochi, wrote on Telegram that 'a fuel tank caught fire at an oil depot' in the Adlersky city district of Sochi, adding: 'I express my gratitude to the air defence services for their professionalism.' Rosaviatsia, Russia's civil aviation authority, announced that flights had been halted at Sochi airport in response to the attack. Airports in Russia have been repeatedly disrupted by Ukrainian attacks in recent months as part of a campaign to bring the war home to Russians, with some reporting that at least one airport was shut down temporarily on almost every single day in July. The shutdowns have sparked frustration across Russia during tourist season and pose a surging cost for its aviation and tourism industries. Meanwhile, in Russia's overnight attacks on southern Ukraine, seven people were wounded by a missile strike on a residential area of the city of Mykolaiv. It came at the end of one of the bloodiest weeks in Ukraine in recent months, after a Russian drone and missile barrage on Kyiv killed 31 people and injured 179 on Thursday. 02:54 PM BST Our live coverage has ended. Here's a round-up of today's events: Ukrainian drones hit an oil depot near the Black Sea resort of Sochi in Russia, sparking a huge blaze and halting flights Russia and China carried out scheduled joint artillery and anti-submarine drills in the Sea of Japan Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said a change of leadership in the Kremlin 'won't change anything' A Ukrainian FPV drone destroyed a mined bridge in Russia's Bryansk region Ukrainian officials were arrested for a large-scale bribery scheme Ukraine and Russia agreed on a fresh prisoner exchange of 1,200 people 02:27 PM BST Ukraine and Russia agree on fresh prisoner swap Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that Ukraine and Russia have agreed to exchange 1,200 prisoners after their latest round of negotiations in July. 'There is an agreement to exchange 1,200 people, and work on the lists is ongoing,' Mr Zelensky wrote on X, adding 'we are also working to unblock the return of our civilians and are verifying data on each individual.' Prisoner exchanges have occurred in each round of negotiations between the countries this year as the parties make little progress towards a ceasefire or other agreements. Russia has not yet commented on the prisoner swap. 02:16 PM BST Pictured: Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a Russian drone strike 12:36 PM BST Russia carries out second airstrike on bridge in Kherson Russia struck a road bridge in Kherson used to transport military logistics for a second consecutive day. Russian forces reportedly dropped two guided bombs on the bridge, which connects the city to the Korabel neighbourhood. Oleksandr Prokudin, the regional governor, urged residents of the Korabel neighbourhood to evacuate, noting 'it will be difficult to deliver food and other things for the time being.' 12:22 PM BST Explosions reported near Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant Explosions and smoke were reportedly observed at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant this weekend. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reportedly heard blasts and saw smoke rising from the direction of the plant, according to Rafael Mariano Grossi, the IAEA Director General. Plant staff said that the auxiliary site was hit by shelling and drone strikes. The auxiliary facility is located 1,200 metres from the plant's site perimeter. In a statement, Mr Grossi called for 'maximum military restraint', saying: 'Any attack in the vicinity of a nuclear power plant - regardless of the intended target - poses potential risks also for nuclear safety and must be avoided.' The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and was captured by Russia in March 2022. 12:02 PM BST Ukrainian officials arrested for large-scale bribery scheme A Ukrainian MP and other officials have been arrested for a large-scale bribery scheme in buying drones and electronic warfare systems. The scheme reportedly entailed state contracts with suppliers being signed at prices inflated by up to 30%. In a statement on X, Volodymyr Zelensky wrote that 'there can only be zero tolerance for corruption, clear teamwork in uncovering it, and ultimately, a fair sentence.' 'I am grateful to the anti-corruption agencies for their work,' Mr Zelensky added. It comes after Mr Zelensky faced backlash for introducing a bill to strip anti-corruption agencies of their autonomy. Their independence was later restored on Thursday after an unprecedented wave of protests across the country. 11:40 AM BST Pictured: Russian ambulance equipped with anti-drone protective cage With 70% of frontline casualties in the Russia-Ukraine war driven by airborne drone strikes, increasingly innovative methods have been used to ward off attacks from above. One of these methods is anti-drone mesh and netting, which aims to deflect or harmlessly capture incoming drones. Mesh, netting and elaborate metal cages are now frequently seen covering vehicles near the frontline on both sides. 11:35 AM BST Sochi fire has been contained, say Russian authorities Credit: @exilenova_plus / Telegram Regional authorities in Russia have announced that the fire sparked by a Ukrainian drone attack in Sochi has been contained. Earlier, footage showed flames licking up the Sochi oil depot as at least 120 firefighters were summoned to douse the blaze. Russian state media outlet TASS reported that 25 flights were delayed departing Sochi airport after the attack. The drone strike makes up part of Ukraine's disruptive strategy in Russia, aiming to bring the war closer to ordinary people. In July, at least one Russian airport reportedly shut down temporarily almost every single day of the month. 11:21 AM BST Pictured: Ukrainian FPV drone destroys Russian-mined bridge A Ukrainian FPV drone has apparently destroyed a bridge over the Tsata River in Russia's Bryansk region, according to footage posted to Telegram. The wreckage of the bridge is now said to be impassable. The strike reportedly came after Ukrainian forces identified that Russia had mined the bridge in order to use it for a potential retreat. 11:08 AM BST Russian and Chinese navies carry out joint drills The Russian and Chinese navies are carrying out artillery and anti-submarine drills in the Sea of Japan, Reuters has reported, citing the Russian Pacific Fleet. They take place two days after Donald Trump said that he had ordered two nuclear-capable submarines to be positioned in 'the appropriate regions' after 'highly provocative statements' by Russia's former president Dmitry Medvedev. The drills are said to be part of scheduled joint exercises and are not being carried out in response to Mr Trump's remarks. 10:57 AM BST No hope for change in Russia after Putin, says Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's military intelligence chief, has said that a change of leadership in the Kremlin will not change Russia's trajectory. 'Their system is fairly robust and stress-resistant... The departure of Russia's current leader won't change anything,' Mr Budanov stated in an interview on Saturday. 'They have built a system in which any successor will, at the very least, remain within the same paradigm,' he added. 'A whole generation of people has grown up in Russia who were born and have lived under President Putin - and many have already died for him. They can't imagine any other reality.' 10:36 AM BST Russian missile attack injures seven in southern Ukraine A Russian missile attack on the city of Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine has injured seven people and damaged private houses, apartment buildings and cars, according to Vitaliy Kim, the regional governor. Writing on Telegram, Mr Kim shared photographs of the damage, adding that a 57-year-old and a 74-year-old man were hospitalised following the attacks. Ukraine's air force announced on Telegram that Russia launched 76 attack drones and seven missiles at Ukraine overnight, striking eight locations. 10:18 AM BST Good morning Ukrainian drones hit the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi overnight, sparking a huge fire. Follow our live blog for the latest today. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
US trade advisor says Trump tariff rates unlikely to change
New US tariff rates are "pretty much set" with little immediate room for negotiation, Donald Trump's trade advisor said in remarks aired Sunday, also defending the president's politically driven levies against Brazil. Trump, who has wielded tariffs as a tool of American economic might, has set tariff rates for dozens of economies including the European Union at between 10 and 41 percent come August 7, his new hard deadline for the duties. In a pre-taped interview broadcast Sunday on CBS's "Face the Nation," US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said "the coming days" are not likely to see changes in the tariff rates. "A lot of these are set rates pursuant to deals. Some of these deals are announced, some are not, others depend on the level of the trade deficit or surplus we may have with the country," Greer said. "These tariff rates are pretty much set." Undoubtedly some trade ministers "want to talk more and see how they can work in a different way with the United States," he added. But "we're seeing truly the contours of the president's tariff plan right now with these rates." Last Thursday, the former real estate developer announced hiked tariff rates on dozens of US trade partners. They will kick in on August 7 instead of August 1, which had previously been touted as a hard deadline. Among the countries facing steep new levies is Brazil. South America's largest economy is being hit with 50 percent tariffs on exports to the United States -- albeit with significant exemptions for key products such as aircraft and orange juice. Trump has openly admitted he is punishing Brazil for prosecuting his political ally Jair Bolsonaro, the ex-president accused of plotting a coup in a bid to cling to power. The US president has described the case as a "witch hunt." Greer said it was not unusual for Trump to use tariff tools for geopolitical purposes. "The president has seen in Brazil, like he's seen in other countries, a misuse of law, a misuse of democracy," Greer told CBS. "It is normal to use these tools for geopolitical issues." Trump was "elected to assess the foreign affairs situation... and take appropriate action," he added. Meanwhile White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett said that while talks are expected to continue over the next week with some US trade partners, he concurred with Greer's tariffs assessment in that the bulk of the rates "are more or less locked in." Asked by the host of NBC's Sunday talk show "Meet the Press with Kristen Welker" if Trump could change tariff rates should financial markets react negatively, Hassett said: "I would rule it out, because these are the final deals." Legal challenges have been filed against some of Trump's tariffs arguing he overstepped his authority. An appeals court panel on Thursday appeared skeptical of the government's arguments, though the case may be ultimately decided at the Supreme Court. mlm/des Sign in to access your portfolio
