Zelensky Backtracks on Anti-Corruption Control Amid Protests and Foreign Pressure July 24, 2025 Kyiv, Ukrain

[ad_1]
📰 Zelensky Backtracks on Anti-Corruption Control Amid Protests and Foreign Pressure
🗓️ July 24, 2025
📍Kyiv, Ukraine

📄Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reversed course on controversial legislation that would have extended control over key anti-corruption agencies, following strong backlash domestically and from international partners.

In a public announcement on X (formerly Twitter), Zelensky declared, “I have approved a draft law to strengthen the rule of law in Ukraine, ensure the independence of anti-corruption institutions, and credibly shield the legal system from Russian influence.” The draft is set to be submitted to the Ukrainian parliament immediately.

Zelensky emphasized unity and accountability in his message, revealing that he held multiple phone calls with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. According to Zelensky, both leaders offered expert assistance and welcomed Ukraine’s renewed efforts to uphold democratic values.

He also invited German experts to review the draft legislation, a move interpreted as a direct response to widespread criticism over a previous law signed on July 22, which had granted the Prosecutor General expanded oversight over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).

The initial law sparked consecutive days of protests in major Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv—the largest demonstrations since the war began in February 2022. It also drew sharp condemnation from the European Union and international human rights groups, who warned the measures risked undermining judicial independence.

The new draft law aims to restore procedural integrity and reinforce NABU and SAPO’s operational autonomy. Both agencies issued a joint statement acknowledging that the president’s proposal “fully restores procedural rights and guarantees institutional independence.”

Zelensky’s retreat highlights growing international scrutiny over Ukraine’s democratic governance as it seeks EU membership, and signals that even wartime leadership is not immune to domestic accountability or diplomatic pressure.

Analysts suggest this move was vital to preserve Ukraine’s EU accession prospects, especially amid growing concerns of authoritarian overreach. Further international monitoring of Ukraine’s internal reforms is expected. Opposition groups may use this momentum to push for broader legal safeguards and transparency mechanisms.

This episode underscores Ukraine’s delicate balance between wartime governance and democratic standards, as Western allies demand greater institutional transparency in return for continued military and financial support.

🔗 Reported from Kyiv, Ukraine – World News Political Affairs Desk

,Ukraine ,Zelensky ,AntiCorruption ,EUmembership ,KyivProtests ,NABU ,SAPO ,WorldNews ,EuropeanUnion ,PoliticalReform

---