Zelensky backtracks on law over anti-corruption bodies after protests

The largest anti-government protests since the start of the war took place in Ukraine this week

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he has submitted a draft law to reinstate the freedom of two anti-corruption bodies in Ukraine - days after nationwide protests broke out over changes curbing their independence.

Kyiv's Western partners had also expressed serious concerns over the legislation.

On Thursday, Zelensky backtracked, saying the new bill was intended to safeguard the independence of Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (Sap), and to protect them from Russian influence.

He said the text of the bill was "well-balanced", but did not provide any details.

Nabu said that the new bill "restored all procedural powers and guarantees of independence" of the two bodies.

The law passed earlier this week brought Nabu and Sap under the control of the prosecutor general, who is appointed by the president.

At the time Zelensky justified his decision to curtail the bodies' powers by citing Russian influence. The day before, Ukraine's security services had carried out searches and arrests targeting alleged Russian spies at the agency.

The passing of the legislation instantly sparked the largest protests since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022 in several cities across Ukraine, with many worrying the law would severely undermine the Nabu and Sap's authority and effectiveness.

Thousands of people gathered in streets and squares across Ukraine, holding placards calling for the legislation to be vetoed.

Several commentators accused Zelensky of democratic backsliding. Their concerns were further exacerbated when Ukraine's Western partners signalled their displeasure with the bill.

Ukraine has official EU candidate status and a spokesman for European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen previously warned Kyiv that the rule of law and the fight against corruption were "core elements" of membership to the bloc.

On Thursday, the Commission said it "welcomed" the Ukrainian government's decision to take action against the bill.

"We are working [with the Ukrainian government] to make sure that our concerns... are indeed taken into account," the spokesman said.

The creation of Nabu and Sap in 2014-15 was one of the requirements set by the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund to move towards a relaxation of visa restrictions between Ukraine and the EU.

Opposition MP Oleksiy Goncharenko noted Zelensky's comments that "the independence of anti-corruption institutions must be guaranteed."

"First we take it away, and then we say that it must be guaranteed. So why was all this necessary?"

In his message on social media on Thursday, Zelensky did not acknowledge the protests or the backlash but said it was "important that we respect the position of all Ukrainians and are grateful to everyone who stands with Ukraine."