Thousands Protest Against Ukraine’s Government Over Corruption Concerns (Worthy News In-Depth)
By Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Thousands protested in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities against a law weakening anti-corruption bodies in the largest anti-government rallies since Russia’s full-scale invasion over three years ago.
Shouting “Veto the law!” and “We are against it!” demonstrators demanded Tuesday that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy veto the new legislation.
Yet despite the protests, Zelenskyy signed the bill into law late Tuesday, according to the parliament’s website, raising international alarm.
Protests broke out shortly after Ukraine’s parliament voted for the measures, which will tighten the Prosecutor General’s oversight of two key anti-corruption agencies.
The bill passed despite critics warning it could weaken the agencies’ independence and give President Zelenskyy’s circle greater influence over investigations.
Tuesday’s rare wartime protests, held amid deadly Russian drone and missile strikes, highlighted growing domestic concerns about democratic backsliding.
“Those who swore to protect the laws and the Constitution have instead chosen to shield their inner circle, even at the expense of Ukrainian democracy,” said veteran Oleh Symoroz, sitting in a wheelchair because both his legs were amputated after he was wounded in 2022.
ZERO TOLERANCE
“Instead of setting an example of zero tolerance for corruption, the president is using his power to take control of criminal cases involving his allies,” he told reporters.
On Monday, Ukraine’s domestic security agency detained two NABU officials on “suspicion of links to Russia” and searched other agency employees on unrelated allegations.
Last week, the president reshuffled his wartime Cabinet, a move viewed as further consolidating power within his inner circle.
The European Union has warned that Ukraine’s path to EU accession hinges on maintaining strong, independent anti-corruption institutions.
EU’s Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos expressed concern over the vote in parliament, calling it “a serious step back.”
Kos added: “Independent bodies like NABU and SAPO are essential for Ukraine’s EU path. Rule of Law remains in the very center of EU accession negotiations.”
While rallies have taken place during the war in Ukraine, they have primarily focused on the return of prisoners of war or missing people. Protests, however, remain a traditional form of public pressure in Ukraine, where two previous revolutions were victorious for the public.l, commentators said.
RESOURCES NEEDED
“Corruption is a problem in any country, and it must always be fought,” said Ihor Lachenkov, a blogger and activist who urged people to join the protest through his social media platforms, which reach more than 1.5 million followers.
“Ukraine has far fewer resources than Russia in this war,” he said. “If we misuse them, or worse, allow them to end up in the pockets of thieves, our chances of victory diminish. All our resources must go toward the fight.”
The controversy also arises as Kyiv is lobbying for Ukraine’s reconstruction, estimated to cost at least € 524 billion ($616 billion) and possibly € 1 trillion ($1.2 trillion) over the next decade.
Ukraine says it also requires at least $120 billion for defense next year, with ongoing negotiations to secure roughly $60 billion from the European Union and the NATO military alliance.
However, it doesn’t help that, as of 2024, Ukraine ranked 105th out of 180 countries on the annual Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). Its score of 35, one less than in previous years, indicates serious concerns over corruption in public institutions, judiciary independence, and political influence.
Despite reforms since 2014 and some progress in anti-corruption enforcement, Transparency International noted risks of backsliding in 2024, especially with recent legislation affecting anti-corruption agencies.
Transparency International measures the perception of public sector corruption according to 13 data sources, including the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, and private risk and consulting firms. It ranks 180 countries and territories on a scale from “highly corrupt” (0) to “very clean” (100).
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