Thousands gather to protest as Zelenskyy signs bill weakening anti-corruption agencies
Ukraine 's parliament passed legislation that will tighten oversight of two key anti-corruption agencies, which critics say could significantly weaken their independence and give President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's circle greater sway over investigations. Zelenskyy signed the bill into law, according to the parliament's website late Tuesday.
Fighting entrenched corruption is crucial for Ukraine's bid to join the European Union and maintain access to billions of dollars in Western aid. The legislation's passage has triggered public outrage in Ukraine, with some saying it appeared to be a greater moral blow than the routine Russian drone and missile attacks.
The changes would grant the prosecutor general new authority over investigations and cases handled by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO).
'In effect, if this bill becomes law, the head of SAPO will become a nominal figure, while NABU will lose its independence and turn into a subdivision of the prosecutor general's office,' the agencies said in a joint statement on Telegram.
In a post on X, the EU's Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos expressed concern over the vote in the parliament, called the Rada, calling it 'a serious step back.'
Kos added: 'Independent bodies like NABU & SAPO are essential for Ukraine's EU path. Rule of Law remains in the very center of EU accession negotiations.'
While rallies have taken place during the war in Ukraine, they have largely focused on the return of prisoners of war or missing people. Protests, however, remain a traditional form of public pressure in Ukraine, where two previous revolutions were victorious for the public.
'Corruption is a problem in any country, and it must always be fought,' said Ihor Lachenkov, a blogger and activist who urged people to join the protest through his social media platforms, which reach more than 1.5 million followers.
'Ukraine has far fewer resources than Russia in this war,' he said. 'If we misuse them, or worse, allow them to end up in the pockets of thieves, our chances of victory diminish. All our resources must go toward the fight.'
The Ukrainian branch of Transparency International criticized parliament's decision, saying it undermines one of the most significant reforms since what Ukraine calls its Revolution of Dignity in 2014 and damages trust with international partners.
The group urged Zelenskyy to veto the law, warning that otherwise he would share responsibility with the Rada for 'dismantling Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure.'
Many protesters carried signs reading 'Veto the law,' 'Protect the anti-corruption system, protect Ukraine's future,' or simply 'We are against it.'
The mood of anger and frustration among the war-weary Ukrainians prevailed in the crowd. Some protesters accused Ukraine's leadership of prioritizing loyalty and personal connections over the fight against corruption.
'Those who swore to protect the laws and the Constitution have instead chosen to shield their inner circle, even at the expense of Ukrainian democracy,' said veteran Oleh Symoroz, sitting in a wheelchair because both his legs were amputated after he was wounded in 2022.
'Instead of setting an example of zero tolerance for corruption, the president is using his power to take control of criminal cases involving his allies,' he said.
On Monday, Ukraine's domestic security agency detained two NABU officials on suspicion of links to Russia and searched other agency employees on unrelated allegations.
Zelenskyy's office didn't respond to a request for comment. Last week, the president carried out a reshuffle of his wartime Cabinet, a move widely viewed as further consolidating power within his inner circle.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
8 minutes ago
- The Hill
Lutnick says tariffs set in place Aug 1: ‘No extensions. No more grace periods.'
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on Sunday that President Trump would not grant any further extensions to countries wishing to negotiate trade deals ahead of the Aug. 1 deadline. 'No extensions, no more grace periods. Aug. 1, the tariffs are set,' Lutnick said in an interview on 'Fox News Sunday.' 'They'll go into place, customs will start collecting the money, and off we go,' Lutnick continued. Lutnick added, however, that the president would be open to continuing to negotiate even once the tariffs are in place. 'Obviously after Aug. 1, people can still talk to President Trump,' Lutnick said. 'I mean, he's always willing to listen.' The president will also continue to talk to other countries before the Aug. 1 deadline, Lutnick added. 'Whether they can make him happy is another question,' Lutnick said. 'But the president's definitely willing to negotiate and talk to the big economies for sure.' The interview came shortly before Trump announced a trade deal with the European Union, setting tariffs at 15 percent for European goods, including automobiles. The EU agreed to purchase $750 billion worth of energy from the U.S. as part of the deal, Trump announced on Sunday, and to invest in the U.S. $600 billion more than the current investments for other goods. The agreement is lower than the 30 percent tariff Trump had threatened to impose on the EU, which was set to take effect on Aug. 1, and avoids a trade war with the U.S.'s largest trading partner. Trump earlier this month posted letters to social media sent to more than a dozen countries vowing to impose steep tariffs on their imports starting Aug. 1. An initial round of tariffs unveiled in April were paused for 90 days to allow time for negotiations, and the president then pushed the deadline for the tariffs to take effect back by another couple weeks — to Aug. 1.
News24
9 minutes ago
- News24
Trump and EU's Von der Leyen announce deal hours before deadline
US President Trump and EU chief Von der Leyen announced an agreement just before the 1 August deadline that would have triggered across-the-board 30% US tariffs on EU goods. The deal sets a uniform 15% tariff on EU exports to the US. As part of the agreement, the EU committed to purchasing $750 billion worth of US energy and investing an additional $600 billion in America. US President Donald Trump and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday announced they had reached a deal to end a transatlantic tariffs standoff and avert a full-blown trade war. The agreement came as the clock ticked down on an 1 August deadline for the European Union to strike a deal with Washington - or face an across-the-board US levy of 30%. 'We have reached a deal. It's a good deal for everybody,' Trump told reporters following a high-stakes meeting with Von der Leyen at his golf resort in Turnberry, Scotland. Trump told reporters the deal involved a baseline levy of 15% on EU exports to the United States - the same level secured by Japan - including for the bloc's crucial auto sector, which is currently being taxed at 25%. 'We are agreeing that the tariff straight across, for automobiles and everything else, will be a straight across tariff of 15%,' Trump said. READ | Trump complains EU not offering fair trade deal, Japan being 'tough' too He also said the bloc had agreed to purchase '$750 billion worth of energy' from the United States, as well as $600 billion more in additional investments in the country. Negotiating on behalf of the EU's 27 countries, Von der Leyen's European Commission had been pushing hard to salvage a trading relationship worth an annual $1.9 trillion in goods and services. 'It's a good deal,' the EU chief told reporters, sitting alongside Trump following their hour-long talks. 'It will bring stability. It will bring predictability. That's very important for our businesses on both sides of the Atlantic,' she said. No carve-outs The EU has been hit by multiple waves of tariffs since Trump reclaimed the White House. It is currently subject to a 25% levy on cars, 50% on steel and aluminium, and an across-the-board tariff of 10%, which Washington threatens to hike to 30 in a no-deal scenario. Brussels has been focused on getting a deal to avoid sweeping tariffs that would further harm its sluggish economy - with retaliation held out as a last resort. But the deal, as outlined by Trump, appeared to fall short of EU expectations. The bloc had been pushing hard for tariff carve-outs for critical industries from aircraft to spirits, and its auto industry, crucial for France and Germany, is already reeling from the levies imposed so far. Any deal will also need to be approved by EU member states - whose ambassadors, on a visit to Greenland, were updated by the commission on Sunday morning. They were set to meet again after the deal struck in Scotland. Trump said pharmaceuticals - a key export for Ireland, which the bloc has lobbied to shield - 'won't be part of' any deal. 'We have to have them built, made in the United States,' the president said. This month, Trump suggested the possibility of a 200% tariff on drugs imported into the United States, which would deal a crushing blow to the sector in Europe. The EU had also hoped for a compromise on steel that could allow a certain quota into the United States before tariffs would apply, but Trump ruled that out, saying steel was 'staying the way it is'. Auto sector While 15% would be much higher than pre-existing US tariffs on European goods, which average around 4.8%, it would mirror the status quo, with companies currently facing an additional flat rate of 10%. Had the talks failed, EU states had greenlit counter tariffs on $109 billion (93 billion euros) of US goods including aircraft and cars to take effect in stages from 7 August. Brussels was also drawing up a list of US services to potentially target. Beyond that, countries including France say Brussels should not be afraid to deploy a so-called trade 'bazooka' - EU legislation designed to counter coercion that can involve restricting access to its market and public contracts. Trump has embarked on a campaign to reshape US trade with the world, and has vowed to hit dozens of countries with punitive tariffs if they do not reach a pact with Washington by 1 August. US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick had said on Sunday the 1 August deadline was firm and there will be 'no extensions, no more grace periods'.
Business Insider
37 minutes ago
- Business Insider
Trump strikes a deal with the EU on tariffs
The US and the EU reached a trade deal on Sunday after negotiations in Scotland between President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The deal sets 15% tariffs on most European goods imported to the United States, a significant reduction from the 30% Trump had threatened earlier, but more than the 10% the EU originally sought. In return, Trump said the EU would ramp up investments in the United States. "The European Union is going to agree to purchase from the United States $750 billion worth of energy," Trump told reporters. "They are going to agree to invest into the United States $600 billion more than they're investing already." The EU also agreed to purchase a "vast amount" of military equipment from the US. "I think it's the biggest deal ever made," Trump said. There are some exceptions to the 15% tariffs, including steel, which Trump said would remain at the 50% he earlier set for all countries worldwide. The agreement comes days before August 1, when the Trump administration's tariffs will go into effect for numerous countries, some of which could face levies as high as 50%. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Sunday that there would be no more extensions and that tariffs would go into effect on August 1 as planned.
