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In an important development for Ukraine’s legal landscape, the Verkhovna Rada passed legislation on Thursday to restore the independence of the nation’s key anti-corruption entities. This decisive action reverses a controversial law that had recently placed these bodies under the prosecutor general’s jurisdiction, sparking widespread protest across the country. The new measure received significant parliamentary support, with 331 votes in favor and none against, reestablishing the autonomy of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) JURIST.
NABU and SAPO were created in 2015 in the aftermath of the Euromaidan revolution, intending to prosecute and combat high-level corruption independently. Maintaining their autonomy is essential not only for internal governance but also to secure vital international assistance and further Ukraine’s aspirations for European Union membership.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promptly signed the bill into law, a day after its passage, emphasizing the move as a guarantee for the proper independent operation of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies. This legislative pivot comes amid mass demonstrations from cities including Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, and Dnipro, marking the most significant public outcry since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022.
The initial law, enacted as Law No. 4555-IX, prompted a national outcry due to concerns it compromised judicial independence and jeopardized Ukraine’s EU accession journey. By placing NABU and SAPO under the authority of the prosecutor general, the legislation granted powers to reassign cases and issue binding orders, drawing sharp criticism within Ukraine and from international observers Reuters.
Reacting swiftly to public and Western censure, President Zelenskyy retracted his initial stance on the July law, demonstrating the administration’s sensitivity to both domestic and international pressures. The EU, critical in Ukraine’s reform path, welcomed the new changes, with enlargement commissioner Marta Kos highlighting the importance of adhering to essential values and anti-corruption efforts.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Saybiha reaffirmed the country’s dedication to reforms, linking them directly to progress toward EU and NATO membership. Andriy Yermak, head of the president’s office, echoed these sentiments by declaring the reform as a triumph for democratic Ukraine.
The reversal demonstrates Ukraine’s resilience and its leaders’ responsiveness to popular sentiment and international norms, reinforcing its path toward greater integration with European structures The Economist.
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