On July 22, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky approved a law that limits the powers of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP). In several Ukrainian cities, people spontaneously took to the streets to protest. In Kiev, several thousand protested and called what was happening a "return" to the era of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, who was forced to flee to Russia after the 2014 protests.
What exactly does the new law change?
The new law provides that the Prosecutor General, who in Ukraine is appointed by the president with the approval of parliament, will have access to the cases of the Anti-Corruption Commission and grant access to them to any prosecutor he deems fit. In addition, he can give written instructions to the commission's investigators, change investigations, suspend them, and have other powers. The law also significantly limits the autonomy of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office.
"The independence of both institutions - from any political influence and pressure on our upcoming and current investigations - has been practically destroyed", said SAP prosecutor Oleksandr Klimenko. "The AKK and SAP were created as institutions with exclusive rights to investigate corruption at all levels, while maintaining full independence. This is a necessary condition for our progress towards a united Europe", insists SAP director Semyon Krivonos.
Elective anti-corruption measures?
Just a day before the law was adopted, the offices of the AKK and SAP were searched. Investigators from both institutions are suspected of having ties to Russia. Some lawmakers welcomed the law, including former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who accused the AKP and SAP of selectively prosecuting corruption.
President Zelensky said that Ukraine's anti-corruption institutions would continue to operate, simply "freed from Russian influence." There is no rational explanation for why some procedures investigating corruption cases worth billions have been delayed for years, Zelensky said. The Ukrainian head of state also complained that Russia has gained access to sensitive information through these institutions in the past.
Criticism also from Ukraine's ruling party
There is even criticism of the law within the ruling party itself. The opposition party "European Solidarity" said that the anti-corruption institutions are the greatest achievement of the Maidan protests and that those who vote to pass the law are destroying the state at a critical historical moment.
While Ukrainians are exhausted by the ongoing four-year war and the incessant Russian shelling, their own president is taking away a hard-won achievement - independent investigative bodies that should fight corruption even at the highest levels of power, writes Rebecca Barth in a commentary for ARD. According to her, many in Ukraine are now asking why and suspect that the institutions must have investigated Zelensky's circle too carefully.
"In practice, the country is returning to the state that Russians liked, when there were no rights and democracy. Such countries sooner or later fall into the Kremlin's sphere of influence," warned opposition MP and chairwoman of the Ukrainian European Integration Committee Ivana Klympush-Tsintsadze. According to her, the adoption of the law will create obstacles to Ukraine's European integration and the expected financial assistance from other international allies.
Critical voices also from Brussels
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos called the new Ukrainian law "a serious step backwards".
Investment banker and financial expert Serhiy Fursa pointed out that the AKK and the SAP are accused by many of being ineffective bodies, but according to him this is not the case: "If someone is inclined to hinder our European integration and the support of the West with these decisions, then they are very afraid. And this means that the AKK is doing a very good job," said Fursa.
Seriously concerned over today’s vote in the Rada. The dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU’s independence is a serious step back.
— Marta Kos (@MartaKosEU) July 22, 2025
Independent bodies like NABU & SAPO, are essential for 🇺🇦’s EU path. Rule of Law remains in the very center of EU accession negotiations.
In response to the protests, Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with the heads of all of Ukraine's security forces and anti-corruption agencies, as well as Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko. "We hear what the people are telling us. We know what people expect from state institutions to ensure the lawfulness and effectiveness of each institution," the Ukrainian president said. He also announced that an action plan would be drawn up to resolve the current problem within two weeks.
However, many are concerned that the Prosecutor General, who is close to Zelensky, will not allow the institutions investigating corruption to be independent. "That is why the president is creating a critical moment for Ukraine. With his actions, he risks dividing the country and undermining the morale of the population in its exhausting defensive struggle against Russia," writes Rebecca Barth in ARD. Zelensky must restore the independence of anti-corruption institutions, the author continues. "Otherwise, it will betray all the values for which the people of Maidan fought - and for which they are still fighting and are ready to die in the war against Russia".
Author: Liliya Rzheutskaya