Kyiv sees third day of protests against law limiting anti-corruption agencies’ powers

Espreso correspondent Nataliia Starepravo reported the information.

In the capital, protesters gathered near the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater. Participants are holding signs that read: “If NABU gets in the way, it means it’s working,” “No to corruption,” “When the state loses its conscience, the people must speak,” and others.

One of the participants told Espreso that she believes there is a point in coming out to protest, since promises are just promises.

“As long as there is no clear decision that the new bill has been adopted, we will keep coming out, we will stand here and wait for it. Until it is adopted, there is no clear understanding that NABU will still be independent and that the system will work,” she said.

In addition, MP Maryana Bezuhla, who supported the adoption of Law No. 12414, was seen at the protest. She joined the rally with the slogan “Syrskyi’s resignation!”

Background

On July 22, Zelenskyy signed into law a controversial bill passed by the Verkhovna Rada that significantly curtails the independence of NABU and SAPO. Several provisions shift key powers to the Prosecutor General’s Office — placing both bodies under the influence of the executive.

The bill — draft law No. 12414 — amends the Criminal Code to:

• Allow the Prosecutor General to remove cases from NABU and assign them to other bodies;
• Effectively give the Prosecutor General supervisory control over SAPO, including the power to reassign its prosecutors;
• Grant the Prosecutor General authority to issue binding written instructions to NABU detectives;
• Permit the Prosecutor General to unilaterally close high-profile cases.

Additionally, SAPO’s ability to determine investigative jurisdiction in some cases will be limited, and its chief will lose the authority to resolve disputes over which body should investigate certain cases or amend appeals filed by SAPO prosecutors.

After signing the bill, Zelenskyy claimed that NABU and SAPO would continue their work and that the Prosecutor General was committed to ensuring genuine accountability.

Still, the move triggered widespread protests in major cities across Ukraine. Thousands of citizens called on the president to veto the law, warning it weakens the country’s anti-corruption architecture at a time when transparency and rule of law are under intense scrutiny — both domestically and from international partners.

On July 24, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy approved the text of a new draft bill aimed at “strengthening Ukraine’s law enforcement institutions and safeguarding them from Russian influence”.