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The Kremlin is exploiting discontent in Ukraine over a new law that subordinates the country’s anti-corruption agencies to the prosecutor general. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), this move follows protests sparked by concerns that NABU and SAPO would lose their independence to fight corruption.
Ukrainian analysts told *Newsweek* that this law undoes a decade of democratic progress, though President Volodymyr Zelensky supports a new draft aimed at strengthening the agencies’ independence. The Ukrainian president’s office and the Kremlin have not yet responded to requests for comment.
**Why It Matters**
Zelensky signed a controversial bill on Tuesday that critics say undermines the independence of NABU and SAPO, with the intention of reducing Russian influence. However, protests erupted nationwide due to fears that these agencies would lose their autonomy. The ISW suggests that Kremlin officials are capitalizing on this discontent to portray Zelensky’s government as corrupt and illegitimate, aiming to discourage Western support.
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**What To Know**
On Tuesday, President Zelensky signed a law passed by the Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada) which subordinates Ukraine’s two main anti-corruption agencies to the Prosecutor General. The same day, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Prosecutor General’s Office conducted a raid on NABU offices during an investigation into alleged collaboration with Russian agents.
Zelensky claimed the new law ensures Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies operate without Russian influence. However, protests occurred across the country, fearing that the agencies would not be able to function independently. The Kremlin is using these protests to undermine Zelensky’s government and weaken its support from Western allies, including by attempting to divide Ukraine from its international partners.
**What People Are Saying**
– **Institute for the Study of War (ISW):** “Russia is weaponizing ongoing domestic protests in Ukraine to intensify rhetoric designed to undermine Ukraine’s legitimacy and discourage Western support.”
– **Elina Beketova, fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA):** “This move undoes over a decade of progress in Ukraine. The principles and freedoms people fought for during and after the Revolution of Dignity—transparency and accountability—are being erased.”
– **Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky:** “The most important thing is real tools, no Russian connections, and the independence of NABU and SAPO.”
**What Happens Next**
Zelensky announced on Thursday that he had approved the text of a new draft law to strengthen the rule of law and the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions. However, anti-corruption activists are cautious about whether this legislation will truly restore the agencies’ independence.
📚 Reading Comprehension Quiz
According to the passage, why did protests erupt in Ukraine after President Zelensky signed the controversial bill?
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