Zelenskyy Submits New Anti-Corruption Bill After Protests

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reversed a controversial anti-corruption law passed earlier in the week that would have given the government and the president-appointed prosecutor general greater control over independent anti-corruption bodies. The legislation's passage sparked the largest protests in Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, with demonstrators and critics from the EU and International Monetary Fund warning it would undermine key agencies, NABU and SAPO, crucial for EU accession. In response to the backlash, Zelenskyy submitted an urgent new draft bill to parliament intended to restore the procedural independence of these anti-corruption institutions. The proposal is designed to strengthen the rule of law and shield anti-corruption efforts from Russian interference, addressing both domestic and international concerns. However, questions remain about the fate of the earlier law and the transparency of the legislative process. The episode underscores the importance of anti-corruption reforms for Ukraine’s EU integration ambitions.