🇺🇦 Zelenskyy Reverses Anti-Graft Law After Ukraine Erupts in Mass Protests

 

DW image

Wartime protests sweep Kyiv, Odesa, Lviv as Ukrainians reject rollback of anti-corruption independence and demand EU-aligned reforms.

Zig Diaries World 
Date: Wednesday, 31 July 2025
Time: 01:23 WAT
Location: 📍Kyiv, Ukraine

Ukraine’s wartime government faces rare public protest, prompting reversal of law undermining anti-corruption agencies.

Ukrainians have taken to the streets in a rare wave of public protest not seen since before Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion, forcing President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into a political U-turn over a controversial anti-corruption law.

The outcry erupted earlier this month after Zelenskyy signed legislation that significantly weakened two of Ukraine’s most respected anti-graft bodies—the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). The new law gave political appointees expanded control over investigations, triggering accusations of a rollback in Ukraine’s hard-won transparency gains.

Zelenskyy initially defended the measure as a necessary move to “block Russian interference.” But within 24 hours, thousands of citizens defied martial law restrictions and curfews to march in Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, and other cities. Protesters carried signs demanding the protection of institutional independence and chanted calls for immediate reversal.

In response, Zelenskyy delivered a televised address after the second night of demonstrations, acknowledging public concern and instructing Parliament to fast-track a repeal bill. “It is critical not to lose unity,” he said. “To listen to people, to have dialogue.”

This swift reversal marks a significant moment for Ukraine’s democracy. The protests, which were not dismissed as pro-Russian, broke the wartime taboo on criticizing the government, signaling a renewed civic momentum. Observers say the public’s demand for accountable governance underlines Ukraine’s determination to pursue European Union membership—a path dependent on anti-corruption reform.

🏷️Tags: Ukraine, Zelenskyy, Anti-Corruption, NABU, SAPO, Kyiv Protests, EU Accession, Martial Law
#UkraineProtests #Zelenskyy #NABU #SAPO #ZigWorldNews #AntiCorruption