Zelenskyy Signs Law Stripping Anti-Corruption Agencies of Independence

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a controversial law stripping the country’s main anti-corruption bodies — the NABU and SAP — of their independence, transferring control to the Prosecutor General’s Office, Orda.kz reports.

Under the new rules, the Prosecutor General will have full access to NABU’s cases and can assign them to any other prosecutor. The office is now empowered to issue binding instructions to NABU staff, reassign jurisdiction, shut down investigations at the request of the defense, and personally sign charges against top officials.

The law was quickly pushed through parliament, drawing criticism from opposition MPs, legal experts, and Ukraine’s Western partners. The move effectively dismantles safeguards that took over a decade to build.

The European Commission called the decision a serious setback for Ukraine’s EU aspirations, emphasizing that independent anti-corruption institutions are a key requirement for accession talks.

Protests erupted in major cities after the vote. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko joined demonstrators and said the law pulls Ukraine away from democratic standards and closer to authoritarianism.

Zelenskyy defended the move, claiming it will strengthen accountability and eliminate Russian influence in Ukraine’s legal system. However, critics argue it undermines checks and balances and centralizes power in the hands of political appointees.