Ukraine Reverses Course: Historic Law Restores Independence of Anti‑Corruption Watchdogs Amid Wartime Protests
Ukraine’s parliament passed a landmark law restoring the independence of its anti‑corruption agencies NABU and SAPO following widespread public protests and growing concerns over democratic backsliding during Russian attacks.
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A Constitutional Bridge to Democracy
On July 31, 2025, in a dramatic reversal of policy, Ukraine’s Parliament overwhelmingly passed legislation restoring the full independence of its two principal anti-corruption institutions—the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti‑Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). The vote came amid rare wartime protests and as the country reeled from shelling and drone strikes from Russia that had killed civilians in Kyiv just hours earlier. YouTube+4The Guardian+4Straight Arrow News+4Yahoo News+10Al Jazeera+10The Washington Post+10New York Post+2The Kyiv Independent+2Financial Times+2
President Volodymyr Zelensky quickly signed the bill into law. Hours before, he had endorsed an earlier measure granting the Prosecutor General—an office appointed by the president—broad control over case assignments, effectively undermining NABU and SAPO. That move triggered public outrage, widespread demonstrations, and international condemnation. The Washington PostThe GuardianAl Jazeera
From Authoritarian Drift to Popular Rebellion
The initial legislation, fast‑tracked by allies of the president, alarmed civil society groups, independent media, opposition lawmakers, and Western partners. Critics argued it threatened to transform Ukraine's anti-corruption apparatus into a tool of political reprisal—especially as NABU and SAPO were deeply involved in investigations involving high-level officials, including some close to Zelensky. Financial TimesAl JazeeraWikipedia
Across Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, and Odesa, thousands of protestors, many defying civil curfews, took to the streets—marking the most significant domestic dissent since Russia invaded in 2022. With dramatic visuals of protest banners and impassioned speeches, the demonstrations rapidly morphed into a broader statement about Ukraine’s democratic identity. The Week+1Straight Arrow News+1
Parliament’s U-Turn: The Vote Counts
In a tense, televised session, 331 members of Parliament voted in favor of restoring agency independence, with only nine abstentions. Reports describe heated debate and even a scuffle on the floor—demonstrating how emotionally charged the session had become. The Kyiv Independent+3AP News+3Financial Times+3
The revised law reversed the July 22 decision that had placed NABU and SAPO under prosecutorial control. It reaffirmed NABU’s authority to conduct investigations independently and allowed SAPO to prosecute without interference. Reuters+10Financial Times+10The Washington Post+10
Zelensky’s Calculated Reversal
Zelensky called the legislative shift “a truly productive day with real impact for the people,” emphasizing that restoring agency independence was essential to preserving Ukraine as a functioning democracy—even under war conditions. AP News
The president framed the original rollback as a necessary response to fears of Russian infiltration into Ukraine’s justice system. He claimed NABU and SAPO were inefficient or vulnerable, yet said the new law would shield them from politicization. Reuterspbs.org
Democracy Reasserted: Civil Society and Western Praise
International observers and Western governments welcomed the reversal. The European Union, critical to Ukraine’s financial aid and future EU accession, saw the move as evidence that Ukraine remained committed to reform. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the new legislation a “victory for democratic rule of law.” The Washington Post
A senior EU diplomat noted Ukraine would jeopardize €1.7 billion in aid if democratic backsliding continued. Those funds are tied to anti-corruption benchmarks pivotal to both EU support and IMF lending. The Washington Post
What NABU and SAPO Do—and What’s at Stake
NABU, created in the wake of the 2014 Euromaidan uprising, is Ukraine’s premier investigative body for graft involving public officials and state enterprises; SAPO is tasked with prosecuting those cases. Between them, they have prosecuted presidents, judges, deputies, and bureaucrats—recovering billions Ukrainian banked on reform. In 2023 alone, their investigations reportedly recovered over UAH 4.7 billion (~$120 million USD). Wikipedia
The institutions have long been viewed as Ukraine’s firewall against entrenched corruption. Weakening them risked retaliation against whistleblowers, selective prosecution, and a return to impunity—a regression widely feared by civic activists and professional bureaucrats alike.
Protests as Ukraine’s “Cardboard Revolution”
The public response was notable not only for scale but for style. Protesters used bold, handmade placards—many fashioned from cardboard—to express their value for transparent governance and their resolve that reforms must endure. Media dubbed this the country’s “cardboard revolution,” a striking symbol of grassroots democratic energy. politico.euThe Week
Protestors shouted slogans like “We won’t be silent,” linking their fight to Ukraine’s broader struggle against Russian aggression—and its desire to join the European Union. Their message: even in war, democratic accountability cannot be sidelined.
Political Fallout: Trust, Credibility, and Factional Tensions
Zelensky’s credibility took a hit within his own party. Three MPs publicly announced they had lost confidence, questioning whether the administration could be trusted to uphold democratic norms. One lawmaker even left the ruling “Servant of the People” faction. Financial Times
At the same time, many leaders of the anti-corruption apparatus reaffirmed their commitment to independence, even as they warned of ongoing political pressure. NABU’s head stated internal investigations involving dozens of current and former officials remain ongoing—with public scrutiny at a new high. Financial Times
Why It Matters: Ukraine’s EU Aspirations and Reform Agenda
Ukraine’s path to EU membership hinges on rule-of-law benchmarks, judicial independence, and anti-corruption performance. The reversal thus carries symbolic and practical weight: it reinforces Western trust and signals to international partners that Ukraine adheres to democratic institutions regardless of wartime exigency. Financial TimesThe GuardianOmni
Without this step, analysts warned, Ukraine risked losing not just credibility but crucial economic lifelines—from rising IMF debt to EU investment earmarked for reconstruction and energy security.
The Road Ahead: Keeping Integrity Alive
Despite the legislative comeback, several key questions remain:
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Will NABU and SAPO be protected from political interference in practice?
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Can protest energy be converted into sustained pressure for further reforms—such as judicial independence and public procurement transparency?
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Could internal power struggles undermine long-term anti-corruption momentum?
Zelensky must now demonstrate consistency by appointing independent leadership and maintaining agency autonomy—even in high-profile cases involving his allies.
Conclusion: Crisis, Reversal, and Reform
In the midst of war, Ukraine erupted in protests—not over invasion, but over the rollback of democratic tools designed after Euromaidan. That alone is testament to civil energy at the heart of Ukraine’s identity.
By reversing course and restoring the independence of NABU and SAPO, Zelensky has taken a politically painful but strategically essential step. Whether this is seen as courageous leadership or necessity under pressure depends on the days to come.
For Ukraine—and its partners in Europe and beyond—this moment offers a powerful affirmation: democratic resilience can survive authoritarian slippage—even during war. And for reform-minded Ukrainians, it is a signal that their cause is still unstoppable.
