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Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Protests in Ukraine after Zelensky approves bill curbing autonomy of anti-corruption agencies
Hundreds of people gathered in Ukraine's capital Kyiv to lodge their protest with the Volodymyr Zelensky's administration for passing a controversial bill tightening restrictions on its anti-corruption agencies, presenting the war-hit nation with its biggest domestic turmoil since the Russian invasion in February 2022. Ukraine's parliament on Tuesday passed amendments to allow the country's general prosecutor, appointed by the president, strict control over two anti-corruption bodies – the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (Nabu) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (Sapo). President Zelensky, whose party holds a majority in parliament, approved the amendments late on Tuesday. The changes would allow the general prosecutor to transfer cases from the agencies and reassign prosecutors. The move has alarmed the country as this could result in granting more power to Ukraine's chief prosecutor Ruslan Kravchenko, also seen as a Zelensky loyalist, to reassign corruption probes to investigators of their preference. Shortly after the bill was cleared in parliament, hundreds of people gathered in Kyiv carried placards to protest. Protests also broke out in other cities like Dnipro, Lviv and Odesa. 'We chose Europe, not autocracy,' read one placard by a demonstrator. Another read: 'My father did not die for this.' The vote was denounced on social media as a betrayal of Ukraine's decade-long geopolitical ambition. The protests echoed the long-standing sentiment of fighting corruption in Ukraine as critical to erasing a legacy of Russian rule. Large protest in Kyiv tonight, the first signs of public dissent against Zelenskyy's government since the full scale invasion, as demonstrators rally against the passing of a bill stripping anti-corruption bodies of their powers — Oz Katerji (@OzKaterji) July 22, 2025 Vladyslava Kirstyuk, 18, said memories of her childhood in occupied eastern Ukraine, after Russia's covert invasion in 2014, left a strong impression. "I know what it means for one person to have all the power, when nothing is transparent and everything is working against you," she said. "I don't want it to be the same for us here." Mr Zelensky also said he had spoken to Nabu chief Semen Kryvonos and other top prosecutors. Mr Kryvonos had urged the Ukrainian president to not sign the fast-tracked bill, which he called an attempt to "destroy" Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure. The two agencies – Nabu and Sapo were set up in the country after the 2014 Maidan revolution toppled a pro-Russian president and set Kyiv on a Western course. They are credited for their work to tackle corruption and graft in Ukraine during the war, levelling charges against lawmakers, ministers and a former deputy head of Zelensky's administration. Happening now: The largest protest of wartime Ukraine is underway in central Kyiv over President Zelensky's push to dismantle the country's independent anticorruption agencies. Thousands of protesters and more pouring in. Chants of 'Shame!' among others. They demand Zelensky veto… — Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) July 22, 2025 'Last week, we ran an editorial warning of an anti-democratic backslide in Ukraine. Today, it's happening in plain sight. This isn't what our people have been fighting and dying for, and it's devastatingly unfair to them,' said Olga Rudenko, the chief editor of Ukrainian publication The Kyiv Independent. Ukraine is also facing backlash from anti-graft campaigners who have been alarmed since the government charged a top anti-corruption activist this month with fraud and evading military service. The move has been dubbed as political retribution by authorities for exposing corrupt officials. Rooting out endemic corruption and graft is critical for Ukraine to join the European Union and also a key condition to receive western aid at a time the country is battered by war. The European Union enlargement commissioner Marta Kos said she was "seriously concerned" by Tuesday's vote. "The dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU's independence is a serious step back," she said, adding that rule of law was at "the very centre" of EU accession talks.
The Independent
14 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Protests in Ukraine after Zelensky approves bill curbing autonomy of anti-corruption agencies
Hundreds of people gathered in Ukraine's capital Kyiv to lodge their protest with the Volodymyr Zelensky's administration for passing a controversial bill tightening restrictions on its anti-corruption agencies, presenting the war-hit nation with its biggest domestic turmoil since the Russian invasion in February 2022. Ukraine's parliament on Tuesday passed amendments to allow the country's general prosecutor, appointed by the president, strict control over two anti-corruption bodies – the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (Nabu) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (Sapo). President Zelensky, whose party holds a majority in parliament, approved the amendments late on Tuesday. The changes would allow the general prosecutor to transfer cases from the agencies and reassign prosecutors. The move has alarmed the country as this could result in granting more power to Ukraine's chief prosecutor Ruslan Kravchenko, also seen as a Zelensky loyalist, to reassign corruption probes to investigators of their preference. Shortly after the bill was cleared in parliament, hundreds of people gathered in Kyiv carried placards to protest. Protests also broke out in other cities like Dnipro, Lviv and Odesa. 'We chose Europe, not autocracy,' read one placard by a demonstrator. Another read: 'My father did not die for this.' The vote was denounced on social media as a betrayal of Ukraine's decade-long geopolitical ambition. The protests echoed the long-standing sentiment of fighting corruption in Ukraine as critical to erasing a legacy of Russian rule. Vladyslava Kirstyuk, 18, said memories of her childhood in occupied eastern Ukraine, after Russia's covert invasion in 2014, left a strong impression. "I know what it means for one person to have all the power, when nothing is transparent and everything is working against you," she said. "I don't want it to be the same for us here." Mr Zelensky also said he had spoken to Nabu chief Semen Kryvonos and other top prosecutors. Mr Kryvonos had urged the Ukrainian president to not sign the fast-tracked bill, which he called an attempt to "destroy" Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure. The two agencies – Nabu and Sapo were set up in the country after the 2014 Maidan revolution toppled a pro-Russian president and set Kyiv on a Western course. They are credited for their work to tackle corruption and graft in Ukraine during the war, levelling charges against lawmakers, ministers and a former deputy head of Zelensky's administration. 'Last week, we ran an editorial warning of an anti-democratic backslide in Ukraine. Today, it's happening in plain sight. This isn't what our people have been fighting and dying for, and it's devastatingly unfair to them,' said Olga Rudenko, the chief editor of Ukrainian publication The Kyiv Independent. Ukraine is also facing backlash from anti-graft campaigners who have been alarmed since the government charged a top anti-corruption activist this month with fraud and evading military service. The move has been dubbed as political retribution by authorities for exposing corrupt officials. Rooting out endemic corruption and graft is critical for Ukraine to join the European Union and also a key condition to receive western aid at a time the country is battered by war. The European Union enlargement commissioner Marta Kos said she was "seriously concerned" by Tuesday's vote. "The dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU's independence is a serious step back," she said, adding that rule of law was at "the very centre" of EU accession talks.
Daily Mail
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Anti-Zelensky protests erupt in Ukraine over 'controversial' bill
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sparked outrage after quietly signing a controversial bill that slashes the independence of the nation's top anti-corruption bodies. The law, passed under the radar in a late-night signature on Tuesday, was confirmed on the official website of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament. It hands sweeping new powers to the Prosecutor General's Office, allowing it to seize control of high-profile corruption investigations from the country's fiercely independent watchdogs - the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). No senior official has publicly commented on the reason for Tuesday's amendments, which would allow the general prosecutor to transfer cases from the agencies and reassign prosecutors. NABU chief Semen Kryvonos had urged Zelensky not to sign the fast-tracked bill, which he described as an attempt to 'destroy' Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure. Hundreds of furious demonstrators, many of them young, poured into the streets in Kyiv in response, staging a defiant protest despite a nationwide martial law ban on public gatherings. An estimated 2,000 to 3,000 people gathered near the Ivan Franko Theatre in the heart of the capital, just steps from the presidential compound. 'They are crying that they do not want to return to the times of [former President Viktor] Yanukovych' Kyiv Post reporter Sergii Kostezh said. 'They do not want to return to the times of pro-Russian governance in Ukraine.' The bill - known as No. 12414 - was pushed through parliament at breakneck speed, tucked away in amendments to unrelated legislation in what opponents are calling a deliberate attempt to avoid scrutiny. Lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a vocal critic of the move, alleged on Telegram that Zelensky signed the bill almost immediately after its approval by MPs. 'They don't care about protests,' he wrote. The move has left many stunned, particularly given Ukraine's ongoing war with Russia and its efforts to secure Western support. The independence of NABU and SAPO had long been seen as a litmus test for Ukraine's commitment to democratic reform. The protest - the largest of its kind since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022 - has ignited fears that the government may be sliding into authoritarian habits just as the county battles for survival. And with Ukraine's Western allies closely watching Kyiv's reform efforts, questions are now swirling over whether Zelensky's latest move will jeopardise international support. Writing on X, EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos said she was 'seriously concerned' by Tuesday's vote. 'The dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU's independence is a serious step back,' she said, adding that rule of law was at 'the very center' of accession talks. But Zelensky backed his decision, taking to X to confirm he had conversed with NABU Director Semen Kryvonos, SAPO Prosecutor Oleksandr Klymenko, Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, and Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Maliuk to 'discuss various challenges'. 'The anti-corruption infrastructure will work. Only without Russian influence, it needs to be cleared of that,' he said. 'And there should be more justice. Of course, NABU and SAPO will work. And it is important that the Prosecutor General is determined to ensure that in Ukraine the inevitability of punishment for those who go against the law is actually ensured. 'This is what Ukraine really needs. The cases that have been lying dormant must be investigated. 'For years, officials who have fled Ukraine have been casually living abroad for some reason – in very nice countries and without legal consequences – and this is not normal. There is no rational explanation for why criminal proceedings worth billions have been "hanging" for years. And there is no explanation why the Russians can still get the information they need. 'Important is – without Russians. Important is to have an inevitability of punishment and that society really sees it'. NABU and SAPO were established after the 2014 Maidan revolution that toppled a pro-Russian president and set Kyiv on a Western course. The two agencies have stepped up their work during the war, leveling charges against lawmakers, ministers, and a former deputy head of Zelensky's administration. Anti-graft campaigners have been alarmed since authorities charged a top anti-corruption activist this month with fraud and evading military service. Critics have cast those charges as political retribution for exposing corrupt officials. The government has also faced criticism for rejecting the candidacy of an economic security chief and current NABU detective who was unanimously backed by an internationally supervised committee. A Western diplomat familiar with Ukraine's reform effort described the developments as 'the most dangerous moment' yet for the independence of anti-corruption authorities. 'The Ukrainian side is testing the limits more and more,' the person said, referring to the patience of Kyiv's allies. Many influential Ukrainians lashed out on social media after Tuesday's vote, saying it was a betrayal of Ukraine's decade-long geopolitical ambition. Fighting corruption is seen as critical to erasing a legacy of Russian rule, a sentiment echoed at the protest in Kyiv.
Al Bawaba
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Zelensky's anti-corruption bill trigger protests in Kyiv
Published July 23rd, 2025 - 07:07 GMT ALBAWABA - Hundreds took to the streets of Kyiv to protest against Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky on Tuesday, over his decision to ink an anti-corruption bill. Also Read Video: Italian Zelensky shocks the internet According to protesters, Zelensky agreed to a bill to back legislation curbing the independence of anti-corruption agencies. In detail, the Ukrainian leader signed a bill into law granting the Prosecutor General's Office authority to intervene in the operations of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) sparking anger across the country. Kyiv, right stopped tanks —don't think they won't stop corruption breaks this nation. I love my people. — UAVoyager🇺🇦 (@NAFOvoyager) July 22, 2025 According to Russian media, the protests erupted after several security raids on NABU offices where a senior official was arrested and accused of spying for Moscow. The new law triggered concern by European countries and drew sharp criticism from opposition politicians. Demonstrations were held in central Kyiv and people chanted "Zelya is the devil," using a mocking diminutive of Zelensky's surname. In addition, protesters were also heard shouting "Shame" and "Treason," holding signs calling to freeze the bill and preserve the anti-corruption system's independence. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Anti-Zelensky protests break out on streets of Ukraine as country signs 'controversial' anti-corruption bill
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sparked outrage after quietly signing a controversial bill that slashes the independence of the nation's top anti-corruption bodies. The law, passed under the radar in a late-night signature on Tuesday, was confirmed on the official website of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine 's parliament. It hands sweeping new powers to the Prosecutor General's Office, allowing it to seize control of high-profile corruption investigations from the country's fiercely independent watchdogs - the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). No senior official has publicly commented on the reason for Tuesday's amendments, which would allow the general prosecutor to transfer cases from the agencies and reassign prosecutors. NABU chief Semen Kryvonos had urged Zelensky not to sign the fast-tracked bill, which he described as an attempt to 'destroy' Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure. Hundreds of furious demonstrators, many of them young, poured into the streets in Kyiv in response, staging a defiant protest despite a nationwide martial law ban on public gatherings. An estimated 2,000 to 3,000 people gathered near the Ivan Franko Theatre in the heart of the capital, just steps from the presidential compound. 'They are crying that they do not want to return to the times of [former President Viktor] Yanukovych' Kyiv Post reporter Sergii Kostezh said. 'They do not want to return to the times of pro-Russian governance in Ukraine.' The bill - known as No. 12414 - was pushed through parliament at breakneck speed, tucked away in amendments to unrelated legislation in what opponents are calling a deliberate attempt to avoid scrutiny. Lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a vocal critic of the move, alleged on Telegram that Zelensky signed the bill almost immediately after its approval by MPs. 'They don't care about protests,' he wrote. The move has left many stunned, particularly given Ukraine's ongoing war with Russia and its efforts to secure Western support. The independence of NABU and SAPO had long been seen as a litmus test for Ukraine's commitment to democratic reform. The protest - the largest of its kind since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022 - has ignited fears that the government may be sliding into authoritarian habits just as the county battles for survival. And with Ukraine's Western allies closely watching Kyiv's reform efforts, questions are now swirling over whether Zelensky's latest move will jeopardise international support. Writing on X, EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos said she was 'seriously concerned' by Tuesday's vote. 'The dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU's independence is a serious step back,' she said, adding that rule of law was at 'the very center' of accession talks. NABU and SAPO were established after the 2014 Maidan revolution that toppled a pro-Russian president and set Kyiv on a Western course. The two agencies have stepped up their work during the war, leveling charges against lawmakers, ministers, and a former deputy head of Zelensky's administration. Anti-graft campaigners have been alarmed since authorities charged a top anti-corruption activist this month with fraud and evading military service. Critics have cast those charges as political retribution for exposing corrupt officials. The government has also faced criticism for rejecting the candidacy of an economic security chief and current NABU detective who was unanimously backed by an internationally supervised committee. A Western diplomat familiar with Ukraine's reform effort described the developments as 'the most dangerous moment' yet for the independence of anti-corruption authorities. 'The Ukrainian side is testing the limits more and more,' the person said, referring to the patience of Kyiv's allies. Many influential Ukrainians lashed out on social media after Tuesday's vote, saying it was a betrayal of Ukraine's decade-long geopolitical ambition. Fighting corruption is seen as critical to erasing a legacy of Russian rule, a sentiment echoed at the protest in Kyiv.
