Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy faces growing protests over a new bill that critics say will undermine the independence of two key anti-corruption agencies. The president signed the bill into law on Tuesday, which will bring the Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and its partner organization, the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), under the direct control of the Prosecutor General’s Office.
The move has sparked widespread outrage across Ukraine, with protesters taking to the streets in Kyiv and other major cities despite a nighttime curfew. Demonstrators claim the bill will allow the president and his allies to silence critics and stifle reform efforts.
Transparency International and the European Commission have warned that the measure could undermine Ukraine’s bid to join the EU. The EU has made transparency, judicial reform, and democratic governance conditions for membership.
Zelenskyy and his supporters argue the bill is necessary to root out Russian infiltration in Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies. However, critics see it as a power grab by the president and his inner circle.
Anti-corruption activists and opposition leaders have joined the protests, with many calling for greater transparency and accountability in government. The protests mark a significant escalation of tensions between Zelenskyy’s administration and the country’s civil society.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/zelenskyy-faces-major-anti-corruption-protests-ukraine-prepares/story?id=123987847