Following the signing of a controversial bill by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that undermines the independence of the country’s key anti-corruption institutions, including the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Court (SAPO), widespread protests have erupted in various Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, and Odessa.
Zelensky defended the law in his speech on Wednesday, claiming that the reforms were necessary to eliminate Russian influence in anti-corruption institutions.
However, critics see the law as a step backward in Ukraine’s fight against corruption and democracy, which could jeopardize the country’s chances of joining the European Union.
Protesters expressed their anger at the decision with slogans such as “Shame on you!” and “Veto the law.”
The law, which was passed with the support of 263 members of the Ukrainian parliament and the Verkhovna Rada, gives judges broad powers to control NABU and SAPO investigations and increases the possibility of political interference in corruption cases.
