Ukraine’s parliament has voted overwhelmingly to restore the independence of its anti-corruption agencies, replacing an earlier law that had been condemned by civil society and the European Union.
A total of 331 lawmakers voted in favour of the new bill, proposed by President Volodymyr Zelensky, during a plenary session broadcast live on national television.
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko welcomed the outcome, assuring that the new law “removes the risk of interference in the work of anti-corruption bodies.”
“This is a clear response to the expectations of civil society and our European partners,” she wrote on social media.
The earlier law, passed on 22 July, had placed the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) under the direct authority of the Prosecutor-General, who is appointed by the head of state.
That legislation sparked strong backlash from civil society- which organised the first major protests since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022- as well as from the European Union, a key ally of Kyiv.
Facing the first political crisis of his presidency, Zelensky initially defended the law, accusing the agencies of inefficiency and Russian influence.
However, after stating last Thursday that he had “heard” the criticism, he introduced a revised bill, which received the support of both NABU and SAP. The new legislation restores guarantees for the independence of the agencies, while introducing additional oversight- including systematic polygraph tests for staff with access to classified information- aimed at preventing any “actions” in favour of Russia.
Also read: President: New recruitments for the Anti-Corruption Authority
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