Ukraine's New Law Restores Powers of Anti-Corruption Firms Following Public Backlash

Last Updated:July 31, 2025, 22:23 IST

The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, voted overwhelmingly in favour of the bill, with 331 lawmakers supporting it.

President Zelenskyy addressed the matter in a post on X, expressing gratitude to lawmakers

The Ukrainian Parliament has approved a new bill proposed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, restoring the full powers of the country’s anti-corruption watchdogs and removing recently imposed restrictions. The legislation, passed on Thursday, July 31, effectively reverses a controversial law signed just a week earlier that curbed the authority of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).

The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, voted overwhelmingly in favour of the bill, with 331 lawmakers supporting it. The parliamentary session was streamed online, marking the first time such transparency has been observed since the beginning of the full-scale war with Russia. The new law will come into force from August 1.

The decision follows intense public criticism of the earlier bill, which was seen by many as an attempt to weaken independent anti-corruption institutions, according to RBC-Ukraine. Citizens across Ukraine took to the streets, accusing the government and parliament of shielding political allies under investigation.

President Zelenskyy addressed the matter in a post on X, stating, “I want to thank all the lawmakers for passing my bill, now a law. I have just signed the document, and the text will be published immediately."

The previous legislation, signed on July 22, had stripped NABU and SAPO of key powers and independence. Though Zelenskyy initially supported it, the move sparked significant domestic and international backlash. Just two days later, on July 24, the President introduced new legislation to overturn that decision.

NABU is currently investigating 71 current and former members of parliament on corruption charges, including 31 sitting MPs. The earlier bill had been justified by its proponents as a way to reduce Russian influence and expedite corruption trials. However, critics argued that it undermined the independence of the watchdog bodies and risked damaging Ukraine’s democratic institutions.

Zelenskyy’s earlier move also drew concern from the European Commission. European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, called the rollback of anti-corruption powers “a serious step back" and warned Ukraine to proceed with caution in handling corruption cases involving elected officials.

Location :

Kyiv, Ukraine

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