Zelenskyy Pledges to Submit New Bill Amid Backlash Over Anti-Corruption Reforms

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on July 24 that he had approved and submitted a new draft law to Ukraine’s parliament aimed at safeguarding the independence of anti-corruption institutions, Orda.kz reports, citing The Kyiv Independent.

The move follows sharp criticism over a law signed by Zelenskyy on July 22, which granted the prosecutor general expanded authority over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).

The changes were seen as undermining the institutions’ independence and have sparked nationwide protests.

Details of the new draft have not been made public. Zelenskyy described the bill as “balanced,” claiming it aims to protect Ukraine’s legal system from political influence and Russian interference.

However, anti-corruption watchdogs say it is too early to tell whether the legislation will reverse the previous law’s impact.

Separately, 48 lawmakers submitted their own bill to restore the independence of NABU and SAPO.

The earlier legislation, passed by the Verkhovna Rada and signed into law by Zelenskyy, gives the prosecutor general powers to intervene in NABU and SAPO investigations, reassign cases, and override prosecutorial decisions — powers critics say dismantle key safeguards against political interference.