Zelensky Announces New Draft Law to Restore Anti‑Corruption Agency Independence
Following widespread protests and international criticism over a law curbing the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies, President Zelensky has announced a new draft bill designed to restore autonomy to NABU (National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine) and SAPO (Specialized Anti‑Corruption Prosecutor’s Office). What We Found On July 22, 2025, Ukraine’s parliament passed, and Zelensky signed into law, legislation that significantly increased the authority of the prosecutor general—an appointed ally—over NABU and SAPO, undermining their independence. This sparked the largest wartime protests since Russia’s invasion, with demonstrators across Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, and Odessa demanding the bill be vetoed. Thousands took to the streets with banners reading “We chose Europe, not autocracy,” warning that the law tilted Ukraine back toward authoritarianism and jeopardized EU aspirations. Local and international bodies—including Transparency International Ukraine and EU officials—criticized the reform as a major setback. In response, […]