Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has abandoned his proposed reforms to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) following mass protests across the country.
Protests in Ukraine have been going on for several days in a row. But while at first it was mainly young people aged 17 to 20 who took to the streets, they have now been joined by people who are angry about mobilisation, restrictions on all rights and the policies of the authorities.
During protests in Kyiv criticising the authorities’ decisions regarding anti-corruption agencies, portraits of Zelensky and his chief of staff Andriy Yermak were burned.
Protesters wearing balaclavas first lit flares and then burned portraits of Yermak and Zelensky. Some people shouted insults at them.
Verkhovna Rada deputy Maryana Bezuhla took part in a protest in Kyiv against pressure from the authorities on anti-corruption agencies, holding a poster demanding the resignation of Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.
Some of the protesters criticised the parliamentarian for supporting the controversial law on anti-corruption structures during the vote in the Rada. Judging by the video, those around her shouted “traitor” and tried to drive her away from the protest.
Bezuhla herself made no secret of the fact that she was attending the rally not for the sake of NABU, but to draw attention to the problems of the army, the territorial recruitment centres (TRC) and the “crimes of Syrskyi,” who she has long criticised.
The adoption of the law has caused outrage both within Ukraine and among its allies.
Officials from the European Union have warned Kyiv that the bill could cost Ukraine financial aid and the opportunity to join the union. The ambassadors of the G7 countries have expressed serious concern about the SBU’s investigation into NABU and plan to discuss the issue with the Ukrainian government.
For the sake of justice
Later, Zelensky submitted a bill to the Verkhovna Rada that effectively repeals the law passed earlier this week limiting the powers of anti-corruption agencies. The new bill concerning the activities of the SAP and NABU is being introduced “for the sake of justice,” Zelensky said on his Telegram channel.
According to him, it will provide “full guarantees of the independence of anti-corruption bodies” and “real opportunities to prevent Russian interference.” The bill contains provisions protecting against “abuses.” These include regular lie detector tests for employees of relevant agencies.
He also commented on the protest that has been going on for the third day. “Of course, it is important that Ukrainians are responding so dignifiedly to all events. Ukraine is a country of people who care. I respect the opinion of society. I believe that it is absolutely normal to react when people don’t want something, when people don’t like something. People have said that everything must be done according to the law. We have responded,” Zelensky said.
He tried to shift the blame. According to him, only the Rada is responsible for the law restricting the powers of anti-corruption agencies. He himself, at the time of the law’s drafting and adoption, was allegedly focused on military operations. At the same time, Zelensky approved the relevant law a few hours after the vote in parliament. Many MPs claimed that the vote was organised on the direct orders of Zelensky’s office.
Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk said that the new bill would be considered at the next plenary session. The exact date is not yet known, as the Ukrainian parliament is on recess until August 19.
On July 22, the Rada adopted a law that eliminates the independence of NABU and SAPO. Zelensky signed the corresponding document on the same day.
According to the amendments, both services will be subordinate to the Prosecutor General. The authorities explained this step as necessary to “clean up” the activities of anti-corruption structures from “Russian influence.”
Global media attention
Leading global media outlets continue to actively cover events in Ukraine, with comments from well-known politicians.
“In an evening video address, Zelensky tried to deflect criticism by promising to prepare a new bill… But the apparent concession did not impress the protesters. The disagreements come at a particularly difficult political moment for Ukraine and could undermine the progress it has made with international partners in securing additional aid,” The Guardian reports.
“Some Ukrainians believe that the government is protecting loyal insiders at the expense of transparency…..The political storm could lead to further divisions within Ukraine at a time when unity is vital in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict,” according to Al Jazeera.
“As protesters gathered, Zelensky acknowledged public anger and said he would introduce a new bill in parliament in response to criticism, though he gave no further details on what it would contain… Activists see the move as a return to the corruption of a decade ago, when Ukraine was ruled by President Viktor Yanukovych,” the BBC reports.
“Critics of the law say the government appears to be trying to rein in anti-corruption agencies to protect officials. After decades of widespread corruption in Ukraine, a government purge was seen as a key condition for the country’s entry into the EU, foreign aid and broader integration with the West,” Reuters reports.
“Zelensky appears to be abandoning his controversial anti-corruption reform in an attempt to end protests in Ukraine…Despite this, thousands of people still took to the streets of Kyiv for a large-scale protest shortly after the president made his statement… The armed forces also opposed the measures, accusing the president of undermining morale at the front,” according to the Telegraph.
