Mass protests against Zelensky's crackdown on anti-graft bodies: What we know so far
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) were placed under executive oversight following security raids on the NABU, with Zelensky suggesting that the anti-corruption infrastructure was subject to Russian influence.
The NABU and SAPO were established in 2015 as part of a Western-backed initiative to combat high-level corruption in Ukraine. Both agencies were seen as crucial conditions for EU membership talks and continued Western financial assistance. The NABU has also played a key role in investigating corruption in the Ukrainian military and procurement schemes.
While the agencies were designed to operate independently, with support from the US, UK, and EU, local media suggests they have links to the US Democratic Party.
Tensions escalated following recent NABU investigations into politically sensitive cases, including a probe into former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, former Unity Minister Aleksey Chernyshov, and former Vice Prime Minister Olga Stefanishina.
Earlier this week, security officials raided the NABU and SAPO, reportedly without court warrants and at the behest of Andrey Yermak, a top Zelensky aide. The raid resulted in the arrest of one senior official on suspicion of cooperating with Russia.
On Tuesday, the Ukrainian parliament approved legislation that placed the NABU and SAPO under the purview of the Prosecutor General, which was signed into law by Zelensky the same day.
The controversial move sparked backlash from MPs and Zelensky's political rivals. MP Anastasia Radina warned that the reform would cripple Ukraine's anti-graft system and render it 'purely decorative.'
Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko, a critic of Zelensky, accused the government of 'using the war as a pretext to dismantle the anti-corruption agencies' and pushing Ukraine toward authoritarianism. MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak warned that the two agencies would completely lose their independence.
The controversial move sparked protests across Ukraine, with rallies in Kiev, Lviv, Dnepr, and Odessa. Demonstrators chanted 'Veto the bill,' carrying signs reading 'Shame!' 'Treason!' and 'We are not suckers!'
Others shouted 'Zelensky is devil' and 'f**k Yermak,' referring to the Ukrainian leader's powerful chief of staff.
The Ukrainian leader rejected criticism of his authoritarian tendencies, insisting that 'the anti-corruption infrastructure will work – just without Russian influence.'
Vasily Malyuk, the head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), claimed that the authorities are fighting Russian intelligence, not the anti-corruption agencies – arguing that people in the agencies will be 'delighted' by the changes.
Prominent MP Yulia Timoshenko said the move would shield the country from 'colonialism' and Western influence.
Opponents of the reform have drawn parallels with Ukraine's 2014 Maidan protests, which paved the way for the Western-backed coup in Kiev and the ousting of then-President Viktor Yanukovich, with some protesters accusing Zelensky of 'betraying' Ukraine.
The original Maidan protest began after Yanukovich – who also faced criticism over perceived authoritarianism – abruptly scrapped legislation for closer integration with the EU.
The Group of Seven (G7) has said it has 'serious concerns' about the situation regarding Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies. Katarina Mathernova, the EU's ambassador to Ukraine, hinted that the bloc could reconsider its backing of Kiev, writing on X: 'It is as important as ever to preserve the reform achievements to maintain the support needed to prevail over the enemy.'
The Wall Street Journal also argued that Zelensky's political gamble could strip Ukraine of much-needed support in the conflict with Russia.
Meanwhile, an Economist report described the development as 'a full-frontal assault on the Maidan-era reforms,' adding that it 'implies that something sinister is at work.'
'The vote to undermine Ukraine's most consequential anti-corruption reforms casts a shadow over the country's future course,' it said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
36 minutes ago
- Russia Today
Most Germans unhappy with Merz's leadership
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has suffered a major blow in terms of public support over the past month, with 56% of people disapproving of his work, a survey conducted by INSA institute shows. Less than a third of respondents said they are still satisfied with his leadership. In early June, the level of support for Merz stood at 36%, with 45% of Germans critical of his performance, according to the German tabloid Bild, which commissioned the poll. The governing coalition, which includes Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Social Democrats, has also taken a beating, according to the poll. Almost 60% of Germans are not satisfied with the coalition's work, up from just 44% in early June, the data suggests. The two parties would no longer be able to form a majority government if elections were held this weekend, with the CDU getting 27% of the vote and the Social Democrats gaining 15%, according to INSA. Germany's most popular opposition party – the right-wing Alterative for Germany (AfD) – is polling just three percentage points behind the CDU, the poll suggested. Since taking office in May, Merz has adopted a hardline foreign policy stance towards Russia. Berlin – one of Kiev's largest backers – has pledged to provide €5 billion ($5.6 billion) to finance long-range weapons production in Ukraine. The chancellor also did not rule out providing long-range missiles capable of striking Moscow. Merz declared that diplomatic options in the Ukraine conflict were 'exhausted' earlier this month. The chancellor's statements prompted Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to accuse him of choosing escalation instead of diplomacy. The federal government's spending priorities have sparked criticism at home. 'Nobody understands that anymore,' AfD co-chair Alice Weidel said this week, referring to Berlin's decision to funnel taxpayers' money into weapons for Kiev while leaving domestic needs being unmet.
Russia Today
2 hours ago
- Russia Today
Immigration is ‘killing' Europe
US President Donald Trump has ramped up his rhetoric on immigration, claiming it is 'killing' Europe and warning that European leaders must act immediately or risk losing control. The warning comes as the continent continues to grapple with a protracted migration crisis that has spanned more than a decade. Large numbers of migrants have been entering the EU since 2015, largely caused by upheavals in the Middle East and Africa, and later the Ukraine conflict. According to the EU Commission, there were 385,445 irregular border crossings in 2023, an 18% increase from 2022. 'You're allowing it to happen to your countries, and you've got to stop this horrible invasion that's happening to Europe,' Trump said during a five-day visit to Scotland focused on his business interests, including golf resorts. 'Immigration is killing Europe,' the president added, urging leaders to take immediate action. 'You better get your act together, or you're not going to have Europe anymore.' Trump also used the occasion to highlight his administration's hardline stance on immigration within the US, boasting about stepped-up enforcement along the southern border. 'As you know, last month we had nobody entering our country. We removed a lot of bad people who got in,' he said. Since returning to the Oval Office in January, Trump has reinstated strict immigration control, including mass deportations and expanded detention efforts. He has pledged to carry out the largest migrant removal operation in US history despite widespread criticism and protests across the country. The migration crisis in Europe has been met with varied responses across the continent. While some countries initially welcomed asylum seekers, many have since reintroduced border controls and tightened immigration laws amid concerns over security and rising crime. In April, US Vice President J.D. Vance echoed the president's concerns, describing its migration policy as one of the Europe's greatest threats. He warned that uncontrolled migration risks 'destroying the fundamental cultural bedrock of Europe.'
Russia Today
5 hours ago
- Russia Today
Putin-Zelensky summit only possible to finalize peace deal
A summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky should only take place to finalize a peace settlement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said. Zelensky has repeatedly called for a face-to-face meeting with Putin in the past several months. The Ukrainian delegation has also proposed the idea during rounds of bilateral talks in Istanbul, framing such a summit as essential to ending the conflict. While the Kremlin has not ruled out a possible Putin-Zelensky meeting, Russian officials have consistently emphasized that the groundwork must be laid first. 'A summit meeting can and should put a final point in the settlement and record the modalities and agreements that are to be developed in the course of expert work. It is impossible to do the opposite,' Peskov told reporters on Friday. Following the third round of Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul this week, the Kremlin spokesman accused Kiev of prematurely pushing for a summit. 'They are trying to put the cart before the horse,' Peskov said, stressing that 'work needs to be done, and only then can the heads of state be given the opportunity to record the achievements that have been made.' Moscow has consistently pointed to concerns about Zelensky's legal authority. While Russia has stated it is open to negotiations with him, officials have warned that any documents signed under Zelensky's name could face legal challenges in the future. Zelensky's presidential term expired in May 2024. He has refused to hold new elections, citing the ongoing state of martial law in Ukraine. Russia has argued that his status as head of state is no longer valid and that legal authority in Ukraine now lies with its parliament. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has suggested that Zelensky's insistence on meeting both Putin and US President Donald Trump may be aimed at getting 'a massive legitimacy boost' and using the meetings as a pretext to further delay elections.
