Ukraine's government needs to clarify its choices regarding the alterations to the anti-corruption institutions - EU Parliamentarian Zile
In a surprising turn of events, a new law passed in Ukraine on July 22, 2025, has sparked nationwide protests and raised concerns both domestically and internationally. The legislation, criticized by Ukrainian anti-corruption activists, threatens Ukraine's reforms and ambition to join the European Union.
The law, which was rushed through Parliament with minimal debate and limited transparency, significantly undermines the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) by placing them under the control of the Prosecutor General. This move grants the Prosecutor General sweeping powers to reassign NABU cases to other bodies, including politically sensitive cases, and centralizes authority to charge high-ranking officials, a power that was previously held by SAPO's leadership.
Key details of the law include:
- The Prosecutor General can remove case investigations from NABU if deemed ineffective or impossible during martial law.
- The Prosecutor General can demand pretrial investigation materials from SAPO and transfer them outside SAPO.
- SAPO’s leader loses the exclusive power to charge major corruption suspects.
The law has raised fears of political interference and eroding the progress made in anti-corruption reforms. It creates significant loopholes for removing politically sensitive cases from independent investigation. The Prosecutor General, a political appointee dependent on the President and Parliament, gains significant control over anti-corruption probes, increasing the risks of misuse of power.
President Volodymyr Zelensky and his administration have come under scrutiny for these controversial decisions. Zelensky met with top law enforcement and anti-corruption officials to discuss the matter, but has since signed the law into action, ignoring public and political calls for a veto.
The law was passed with 263 votes in favor, with only 13 against and 13 abstentions. Ukrainian civil society, opposition politicians, and watchdogs strongly condemned the law. Protests erupted nationwide in Kyiv and other cities, marking the largest demonstrations since Russia’s 2022 invasion, demanding the veto or repeal of the law.
Many MPs who supported the bill have remained silent or vague publicly about their vote, prompting public criticism and mistrust. Western international partners including the US, EU, UK, and G7 have expressed concern over Ukraine’s commitment to rule-of-law reforms following the law’s adoption.
Activists deny the charge of Russian influence in anti-corruption institutions. Zelensky, however, rejects the criticism, stating the law is needed to root out alleged Russian influence in anti-corruption institutions. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) have criticized the changes in the law and have called for unambiguous legislative steps to reinstate the guarantees revoked by Parliament.
In response to the criticism, Zelensky plans to propose a new bill that aims to ensure the independence of anti-corruption institutions. Media reports suggest Zelensky will propose improved changes to the law next week, which are currently being discussed. It remains to be seen whether these decisions bring Ukraine closer or further away from European values.
The controversial law, passed in Ukraine on July 22, 2025, has drawn intense scrutiny from political analysts and the general public, falling under the purview of policy-and-legislation and politics. This contentious legislation, which undermines the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), has sparked nationwide protests and raised concerns domestically and internationally about Ukraine's commitment to upholding its anti-corruption reforms and ambition to join the European Union.
