Massive protests have erupted across Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a controversial bill critics say undermines anti-corruption institutions.
Massive protests have erupted across Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a controversial bill critics say undermines anti-corruption institutions. The legislation places the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) under the control of Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko. Zelensky argued the law would remove “Russian influence” and allow billion-dollar criminal proceedings to advance faster. “Criminal proceedings must not drag on for years without lawful verdicts,” he said. However, thousands rallied in Kyiv in the largest anti-government protest since the 2022 Russian invasion. War veteran Dmytro Koziatynskyi urged the public to protest, saying, “Time is not on our side.” Demonstrations also took place in Lviv, Dnipro, and Odesa. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko joined protesters, stating: “Sapo and Nabu must remain independent institutions.” The peaceful protests included signs reading, “We chose Europe, not autocracy.” The bill has drawn concern from G7 ambassadors and the EU, who urged Ukraine to reconsider changes impacting institutional independence.