Ukraine will 'fix' controversial anti-graft law, FM says on eve of vote
President Volodymyr Zelensky changed the law that curbed the powers of anti-graft bodies after the original legislation sparked the largest public unrest since Russia 's invasion more than three years ago.
The law had placed 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.
Critics said the move could facilitate presidential interference in corruption probes.
Zelensky approves new bill restoring 'independence' of anti-corruption bodies after protests
01:46
The new version, approved by the agencies, restores their independence, but also provides for regular lie detector tests for anti-graft officials.
"We anticipate the vote tomorrow. The relevant parliamentary committee has already given its approval. We are getting this fixed," Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga told AFP in an interview.
He reiterated Kyiv's commitment to fight corruption and its desire to join the European Union and NATO military alliance, saying "there is no alternative to this path".
European allies had worried the law would undermine anti-corruption reforms key to Ukraine's bid to join the EU.
Ukraine's top anti-corruption investigator said last Friday that he did not expect attempts to derail his agency's work to end despite Zelensky's U-turn.
NABU director Semen Kryvonos said he was taken aback by the attempt to curtail his agency's fight against graft but did not name those who may have been behind the legislation.
"Everyone united around the idea of ruining our independence," Kryvonos told Reuters in an interview in Kyiv, referring to parliament passing the controversial measures.
"This was a shock for me – how much demand had built up to destroy us."
It remains to be seen whether members of the parliament, which is mostly loyal to Zelensky, will approve the new version.
Commentators and Ukrainian media feared some lawmakers under potential investigation by the agencies may be reluctant to support the new bill.
Thirty-one MPs were mentioned in NABU's investigations, SAPO said in a statement on Wednesday.
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