CNN
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Ukraine has seen its first major anti-government protest since the start of a full-scale Russian invasion more than three years ago.
A small group of people gathered in the capital Kiev on Tuesday, in the LVIV in the west, and after the Ukrainian parliament Verkhovna Rada, a small group gathered in Dnipro in the east and Dnipro and Odesa in the south, gathered in Dnipro in the south.
Critics say the move further apart from the dream of joining the European Union by hindering the National Corruption Agency (NABU) and the specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). The EU has made it clear to Kyiv that if they want to become a member, they must implement strong anti-transplant measures. The Biden administration has urged the Ukrainian government to do more to eradicate corruption in 2023.
Ukraine has long been considered one of Europe’s most corrupt countries. The allegations of corruption have been made against some of the country’s senior officials, including several close allies of Zelensky, including former deputy prime minister Olexi Chernishov.
The bill was quickly tracked through Congress and was signed into law by Zelensky late Tuesday. In their evening speeches, Ukrainian leaders said that the two organizations “continue to work” but defended his move as a necessary step to remove “Russian influence” from the two institutions. This comes after Ukrainian authorities attacked one of the bodies on Monday and arrested two employees “on suspicion of working in special Russian services.”
He also criticized the previous system for halting for years.
However, opponents say the two agencies can no longer operate independently as new laws influence investigations and even shut down cases.
Criticism came from all corners of society. Former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba condemned the move in a statement, calling it a “bad day for Ukraine” on Tuesday.
The move was unaware of the frontlines where the troops struggle to hold back the Russians. Referring to the corruption that the agency worked to eradicate, Yegor Firsov, the top sergeant of the Drone Strike Platoon, said in X, “This is not a problem with Nabu or SAP. This is a problem with wild bars.”
In response to criticism on Wednesday, Zelensky said, “Everyone will work in a constructive way to solve existing problems, bring about greater justice and truly protect the interests of Ukrainian society.”
The two agencies affected by the law said in a joint statement Wednesday that “previously robbed of guarantees that tasks and functions could be effectively carried out in combating high levels of corruption.” They asked the government to reverse the law.
Importantly, for Kiev, criticism comes from the inclusion of some of the country’s major western allies, both within and outside of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian chapter of Transparency International, a leading independent nonprofit that monitors corruption around the world, previously urged Zelensky to reject the new law.
The new law said it destroyed Ukraine’s independent anti-corruption agency, but it was “one of the greatest achievements.” European protests sparked a revolution in dignity that drove pro-Russian President Viktor Janukovic in 2014.
The two institutions were established after the revolution, particularly to tackle corruption among the top political classes in Ukraine.
Nabu investigates the corruption allegations and collects evidence before handing them over to SAPO for charges. Transparency International also said the new law undermines the trust of Ukrainian international partners.
Marta Kos, the top official in charge of the process of acknowledging new member states of the European Union, said she was “seriously interested” in the law.
“The dismantling of the major safeguards protecting Nab’s independence is a serious step back. Independent bodies like Nab & Sapo are integral to the EU’s path (); the rule of law remains at the very heart of EU accession negotiations,” Kos said in X.
Meanwhile, the US Chamber of Commerce said the move was disappointing. The law “threatens the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption infrastructure and undermines the country’s trust in anti-corruption efforts.”
The Legislative Initiatives Bureau (ALI), the leading think tank in Ukraine that focuses on building democracy and scrutinizes the work of the country’s parliament, said the new law is a “180-degree turn” in European integration efforts.
Ali said the law effectively blocks investigations by pushing administrative obstacles, including the power to give Ukrainian prosecutors “nearly unlimited powers” and transferring cases to different prosecutors.
The prosecutor working for SAPO added that he has unparalleled expertise in other parts of the law enforcement system after a strict selection process involving international expert advisors.
Ali also argued that the law is a response to war and the extraordinary current situation, but it envisages top prosecutors overseeing the law to continue for three years after Ukraine’s martial law is lifted.
Fighting government corruption was a major campaign pledge for Zelensky ahead of the 2019 election. Zelensky, a former comedian who played the Ukrainian president on the hit television show, had zero political experience before his victory, but he was disappointed by voters on the issue.
During the war, Zelensky fired many senior Ukrainian officials for allegations of corruption, and his government incited anti-corruption measures, including the national anti-corruption strategy.
International organizations, including the EU, the United Nations and a group of seven, have previously praised the Zelensky government for its anti-corruption efforts.
But these same organizations are now denounced the new law. Ukrainian critics say Zelensky’s campaign platform to eliminate Zelensky’s corruption is simply an empty promise.
