SpaceWar.com - Your World At War
Ukraine's anti-graft body says new bill restores independence
Kyiv, Ukraine, July 24 (AFP) Jul 24, 2025
Ukraine's anti-corruption body NABU said a new bill submitted to parliament Thursday would restore its independence, after President Volodymyr Zelensky backtracked under pressure from nationwide protests and the EU.

Thousands took to the streets across Ukraine this week to protest against legal changes that removed the independence of key anti-graft agencies, NABU and SAPO.

They were the country's first large-scale demonstrations since Russia invaded more than three years ago.

The changes also raised concerns in the European Union, a key ally to Ukraine in its war against Russia, which has said reforms are essential for closer European integration.

"Bill 13533, submitted by the President of Ukraine as urgent, restores all procedural powers and guarantees of independence of the NABU and SAPO," NABU said in a statement.

Both agencies took part in the preparation of the new draft law, it added.

Zelensky had promised on Wednesday he would propose a new bill on anti-graft agencies to parliament just a day after having approved the controversial reforms.

The European Union welcomed his new position.

On Thursday, Zelensky wrote on social media that he had just approved the text of the new bill.

"It is important that we respect the position of all Ukrainians and are grateful to everyone who stands with Ukraine," he added.

Zelensky also discussed the issue with the British and German leaders.

He invited Berlin to join "the expert review of the bill" and Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggested involving experts in scrutinizing it, Zelensky said in a statement after phone calls with the leaders.

Zelensky's deputy prime minister in charge of Ukraine's EU integration, Taras Kachka, reassured the bloc's ambassadors that the independence of anti-corruption bodies remained a "priority".

But a solution that would satisfy all parties was needed, he added.

The earlier version of the bill that was aimed at curbing independence of anti-graft bodies was swiftly approved by the parliament on Tuesday and signed by Zelensky into law on the same day.

It was aimed at placing the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) under the direct authority of the prosecutor general, who is appointed by the president.


ADVERTISEMENT




Space News from SpaceDaily.com
Maven stays silent after routine pass behind Mars
ICE-CSIC leads a pioneering study on the feasibility of asteroid mining
NASA JPL Unveils Rover Operations Center for Moon, Mars Missions

24/7 Energy News Coverage
Thorium plated steel points to smaller nuclear clocks
Solar ghost particles seen flipping carbon atoms in underground detector
Overview Energy debuts airborne power beaming milestone for space based solar power

Military Space News, Nuclear Weapons, Missile Defense
Autonomous DARPA project to expand satellite surveillance network by BAE Systems
IAEA calls for repair work on Chernobyl sarcophagus
Momentus joins US Space Force SHIELD contract vehicle

24/7 News Coverage
UAlbany Atmospheric Scientist Proposes Innovative Method to Reduce Aviation's Climate Impact
Digital twin successfully launched and deployed into space
Robots that spare warehouse workers the heavy lifting



All rights reserved. Copyright Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.