Ukraine’s Parliament has approved a new law restoring independence to anti-corruption agencies. The move comes after public outcry and pressure from the European Union (EU), which had frozen $1.7 billion in aid due to concerns over the weakening of these agencies.
The EU views these agencies as crucial to Ukraine’s institutional reforms and membership with the 27-member bloc. The two main agencies, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, were created after a pro-democracy revolution in 2014 and are seen as key to preventing corruption.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy introduced this bill after facing his first major domestic crisis since Russia’s invasion. He acknowledged public concerns and stated that Ukraine is a democracy, saying “the state listens to public opinion and hears its citizens.”
The approval of the law was met with cheers from Ukrainians watching outside parliament, who had anxiously waited for the vote result. Former lawmaker Yehor Soboliev emphasized the importance of transparency in the fight against corruption, stating that Ukraine’s survival depends on maintaining its independence.
Soboliev believes that Ukraine is one of the last countries in the world where a dictatorship can be created and emphasizes the need to balance fighting the war with Russia while promoting democracy. The EU has expressed concerns but notes that “key safeguards” have been restored through this new law, highlighting ongoing challenges to reform.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/08/01/nx-s1-5486729/ukraine-parliament-law-independence-anti-corruption-agencies