Protests have erupted across Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law that critics say weakens the country’s independent anti-corruption agencies. Demonstrators gathered in Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro and other cities on July 22, defying curfews to oppose the legislation.
Protesters say the law reverses years of reforms that followed the 2014 Maidan uprising and undermines Ukraine’s wartime unity.
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The new law gives the Prosecutor General’s Office — led by a presidential appointee — authority over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). Both agencies were created after the Maidan protests to combat corruption and support Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union.
A joint statement from NABU and SAPO warned that the agencies risk becoming tools of the prosecutor general, no longer functioning independently.
“In effect, if this bill becomes law, the head of SAPO will become a nominal figure, while NABU will lose its independence and turn into a subdivision of the prosecutor general’s office,” the agencies said in a joint statement on Telegram, according to The Associated Press.
What was the Maidan uprising?
The Maidan uprising, or Revolution of Dignity, began in late 2013 after President Viktor Yanukovych rejected a deal with the European Union and turned toward Russia. Protests began in Kyiv’s Independence Square and grew into a mass movement demanding democratic reforms. After government forces killed more than 100 demonstrators in February 2014, Yanukovych fled to Russia.
The uprising led to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and a war in eastern Ukraine. For many Ukrainians, Maidan marked a defining stand against corruption and Russian influence over Ukraine’s future.
How has President Zelenskyy defended the law?
Zelenskyy said the bill aims to eliminate Russian influence in anti-corruption agencies and strengthen internal security. He described the measure as necessary to ensure “a real sense of justice” and restore trust in law enforcement. He also accused some officials of mishandling major cases and leaking sensitive information.
Following criticism, Zelenskyy met with heads of law enforcement and anti-corruption bodies. He announced plans to develop a joint action plan within two weeks to address public concerns and reinforce accountability.
What are the domestic and international reactions?
Opposition has emerged from across the political spectrum. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko joined protesters and accused the administration of using the war as cover for centralizing power. Prominent activists warned of rising authoritarianism and damage to Ukraine’s democratic institutions.
Klitschko, a frequent critic of the president, said the law “does not bring Ukraine closer to the European Union. It certainly does not bring it closer to democracy, the rule of law, and legality” and accused the government of “dragging Ukraine faster and faster into authoritarianism.”
European leaders and U.S. officials have voiced concern over the law’s impact on judicial independence and corruption oversight. Some fear the move could undermine Western support for Ukraine and strain relations with the Trump administration, which has criticized Zelenskyy’s leadership.
Despite the backlash, the law passed with the support of Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People party and others in parliament.
