Zelensky signs law stripping anti-corruption bodies of power

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Volodymyr Zelensky signed a controversial law Tuesday night that strips Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies of their autonomy. " It has returned with the signature of the Ukrainian President ," the Ukrainian parliament 's website reported, referring to the bill, as protests against its approval took place in the streets of Kyiv.

A senior Ukrainian official confirmed that Zelensky had signed the law, which grants the Prosecutor General new powers over investigations led by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and cases led by the Specialized Anti-Corruption Bureau (SAPO) — which were raided yesterday over suspicions of Russian infiltration.

The bill was approved with the support of 263 parliamentarians, with 13 votes against and 13 abstentions. Several oversight bodies warned that, if adopted, the amendments would hinder the two agencies' investigations into officials or individuals close to the Ukrainian president. The director of NABU condemned the legislation, saying it threatens the country's integration into European alliances.

The changes amount to "destroying the independence of NABU and SAPO and practically subordinating their activities to the Attorney General," read a statement released by the service before the vote. After the vote, the director of NABU expressed hope that Zelensky would veto the bill.

And Dmytro Koziatynskyi, a veteran of the Russo-Ukrainian war, even called on Kyiv residents to hold a peaceful protest Tuesday night against this law, which represents a "serious setback in the fight against corruption." "We need to take to the streets tonight and demand that Zelensky veto this law before it's too late," Koziatynskyi said, as quoted by Ukrainska Pravda . But to no avail, Zelensky signed it into law.

Учасники акції вигукують "Вето на закон". Відео – Володимир Тунік-Фриз pic.twitter.com/Lt4FjErwnG

— Українська правда ✌️ (@ukrpravda_news) July 22, 2025

Also on Tuesday, the European Commission spokesperson expressed the community bloc's concern regarding the Ukrainian parliament's approval of the bill that destroys the independence of the two anti-corruption bodies.

According to Guillaume Mercier, quoted by New Voice of Ukraine , the agencies that make up the Anti-Corruption Bureau are essential to Ukraine's reform agenda and must operate independently to combat corruption and maintain public trust.

The European spokesperson also stressed that Ukraine's future accession to the European Union will require a strong capacity to combat corruption, so financial aid is conditional on progress in terms of transparency, judicial reform, and democratic governance.

However, Guillaume Mercier assured that the European Union will continue to monitor the situation and support Ukraine in defending the rule of law.