The Ukrainian Parliament has approved a law limiting the independence of anti-corruption agencies, sparking the first major protests against President Volodymyr Zelensky's government since the start of the Russian invasion. The protests aren't limited to protests in the streets, however: the EU Commission has also demanded explanations from Brussels regarding Kiev's accession process to the Union. The law subjects the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), agencies previously considered independent, to greater political scrutiny, granting the Prosecutor General's Office powers to evaluate their actions.

The agencies were established in 2013 after the pro-European Euromaidan demonstrations, and the fight against corruption is one of the cornerstones of the negotiations for Ukraine's accession to the European Union, which have been underway since 2022. The European Commission has expressed serious concern about this new law, calling it a"major step backwards." President Ursula von der Leyen contacted Zelensky directly to ask for an explanation: "Respect for the rule of law and the fight against corruption are fundamental elements of the EU. As a candidate country, Ukraine is expected to fully respect these standards," a spokesperson for the EU executive explained."Both institutions, NABU and SAPO, are widely regarded as pillars of the Ukrainian rule of law," he further emphasized.

European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection Michael McGrath called the law a U-turn: “What we do not want to see is a reversal of the hard-won progress in Ukraine that has been built over several years.” Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement, also commented publicly in a post on X: “Independent bodies such as NABU and SAPO are essential for Ukraine’s path towards the EU. Respect for the rule of law remains at the heart of EU accession negotiations.” Following the approval of this reform, Ukraine’s European integration could indeed be put at risk.

The law signed by the Ukrainian president was approved by 263 votes in favor, 13 against, and 13 abstentions. The opposition denounced procedural violations, while the Kyiv Independent claims that the amendments that overturned the original text of a law that, according to the Ukrainian newspaper, had little to do with the issue were presented just 24 hours before the vote. The new text increases the powers of the government-appointed Prosecutor General, granting him a series of prerogatives: to remove investigations from agencies, to reassign them, and even to order their closure. These measures also come amid a criminal investigation against Vitaly Shabunin, one of Ukraine's leading anti-corruption activists, accused of fraud and evasion of service. Shabunin himself, following the approval, declared in a Facebook post:"The existence of NABU, SAPO, and the High Anti-Corruption Court no longer makes any sense. Zelensky's Prosecutor General will halt investigations against all of the president's friends." According to the directors of NABU and SAPO, Semen Kryvonos and Oleksandr Klymenko, this effectively dismantles the country's anti-corruption infrastructure, eliminating the agencies' independence.

In response to the law's approval, thousands of people protested in several Ukrainian cities. In Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, and Odessa, protesters took to the streets with signs protesting the restrictions on the independence of anti-corruption agencies. President Zelensky justified his decision to sign and promulgate the law by claiming that such repression was necessary to eradicate"Russian influence" in the agencies. In a speech on the night of Tuesday, July 22, Zelensky said:"The anti-corruption infrastructure will only function without Russian influence, which must be eliminated."

The government had already raised concerns about alleged Russian interference when the Ukrainian intelligence service (SBU) conducted searches inside the NABU offices on Monday, July 21. According to the Anticorruption Action Center, one of Ukraine's leading anti-corruption NGOs, the searches were in retaliation for the investigation into Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov. Zelensky's deputy had been indicted on corruption charges at the end of June, and the opposition criticized his failure to be replaced in the recent cabinet reshuffle.