**Ukraine’s Parliament Seeks to Restore Independence of Anti-Corruption Agencies**
A group of 48 lawmakers in Ukraine has submitted a bill to restore the independence of key anti-corruption agencies, amidst growing concerns over President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent actions. The move comes after Zelensky signed a law on July 22 that effectively destroyed the independence of Ukraine’s two main anti-corruption institutions.
The new law granted the prosecutor general new powers over cases led by the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) and investigations led by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU). Critics argue that this move dismantles safeguards that protect both bodies from political interference. The prosecutor general can now issue binding instructions to NABU, reassign cases outside the agency, and delegate SAPO’s authority to other prosecutors.
**Protests Erupt Across the Country**
Protestors gathered in major cities across Ukraine on July 23-24, including Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, and Odesa, calling for the government to amend current laws. Many Ukrainians are sounding a “code red” for the country’s democracy, saying that Zelensky’s actions have marked the “point of no return.”
**Zelensky’s Response**
Despite criticism, President Zelensky has claimed that the purpose of the law dismantling Ukraine’s anti-corruption infrastructure was to curtail Russian influence. However, experts argue that this is not the case. Kateryna Butko, head of the anti-corruption watchdog AutoMaidan, told the Kyiv Independent that the law does nothing to target Russian agents in or outside the agencies.
**European Commission Raises Concerns**
The European Commission has raised “strong concerns” with Zelensky over the new law. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed her concerns on July 23. This move comes as Ukraine seeks closer ties with the EU.
**Challenges Ahead**
The Kyiv Independent was targeted by a coordinated DDoS attack on July 22-23, coinciding with its coverage of the new law. The newspaper’s News Editor, Kateryna Hodunova, expressed concerns over the challenges facing Ukraine’s democracy.
As Ukraine faces growing pressure from the EU and international community to uphold democratic values, it remains to be seen whether this latest development will mark a turning point in the country’s relations with its Western partners.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com
