President Volodymyr Zelensky caused massive public unrest after signing a legislative act that, according to critics, threatens the independence of key anti-corruption structures in Ukraine.
The newly adopted legislative amendment directly affects two leading institutions - the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (Sapo), placing their powers under the control of the Prosecutor General.
Immediately after the announcement of the bill, thousands of citizens took to the streets in protests in the capital Kyiv, as well as in the large cities of Lviv, Dnipro, and Odesa. Demonstrators carried placards with eloquent messages such as "We chose Europe, not autocracy" and "My father did not die for this".
In an official statement, Zelensky explained that the changes are necessary because the existing anti-corruption mechanisms are ineffective. According to the head of state, the previous system allows criminal proceedings worth billions to "hang" for years without result.
A key point in the new law is the provision of expanded powers to Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, who can now redirect corruption investigations or even terminate them.
The international community received the legislative amendment with sharp criticism. Representatives of the European Union expressed concern that the new texts represent a serious step back in the fight against corruption.
The European Commission emphasized that financial support for Ukraine is linked to progress in transparency and democratic governance. EU Commissioner Marta Kos described the bill as "dismantling key guarantees for the independence" of anti-corruption institutions.
G7 diplomatic circles also expressed concern and requested official explanations from the Ukrainian leadership regarding the motives behind such structural changes.
A curious detail is that just a day before the law's adoption, Ukrainian security services conducted raids and arrests at the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, accusing staff of Russian influence.
Experts analyze the situation as an attempt to centralize power and potentially weaken independent anti-corruption mechanisms built over the past decade with the support of Western partners.
Protesters are demanding the withdrawal of the bill, describing it as a betrayal of European values and democratic principles for which Ukraine has been fighting since the Euromaidan.
Despite the criticism, the Ukrainian leadership remains firm in its position that the changes are necessary for effectively combating corruption and guaranteeing national security.