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, Zelensky announced that he has approved a draft law to be submitted to parliament that reverses those measures, preserving independent operation for NABU and SAPO and rebalancing oversight—after consultations with civil society and foreign partners.
Expert Insight
- Human Rights Watch and civil society leaders described the original legislation as “effectively destroying independence” and warned it created legal loopholes for political interference. Critics argue the bill risked undoing institutional progress vital for EU accession.
- EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos and other international officials expressed alarm, calling the earlier law a “serious step back” that threatened Ukraine’s reform trajectory.
- Zelensky’s reversal is seen as a strategic move to calm public anger and realign Ukraine’s institutions with democratic norms, even while he maintains that reforms remain necessary to combat suspected Russian infiltration into anti-corruption bodies.
- Verified: Zelensky has announced a new draft bill intended to reverse changes that weakened the independence of NABU and SAPO.
- Context: The decision comes after rare wartime protests and mounting EU pressure.
- Implication: Successful passage of the draft could restore public trust and safeguard Ukraine’s EU path—but if delayed or diluted, skepticism about democratic governance may deepen.
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