‘Authoritarian’ Zelensky move ignites demonstrations

(MENAFN) Mass protests erupted across Ukraine on Tuesday in response to President Vladimir Zelensky’s decision to reduce the independence of the country’s key anti-corruption bodies. Demonstrators gathered in major cities including Kiev, Lviv, Dnipro, and Odessa, voicing strong opposition to new legislation signed into law that places the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) under executive control.

The move came shortly after raids on NABU’s offices and the arrest of a senior official suspected of spying for Russia. Authorities also launched an investigation into SAPO for allegedly mishandling classified documents.

Critics, including opposition politicians, warned that the legislation could severely undermine Ukraine’s EU aspirations, stall anti-corruption progress, and be perceived as aligning with Russian interests. Protesters held banners reading “Shame,” “Treason,” and “Veto the bill,” while some referenced Zelensky’s past remarks by chanting “I’m not a loser.”

One protester’s sign read, “The end of NABU and SAP marks the start of an age of corruption,” capturing the growing concern over the reform's implications.

Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko condemned the decision on Telegram, arguing it threatens democracy and pushes the country toward authoritarianism. “The new law doesn’t bring us closer to the EU, rule of law, or democracy,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, the government defended the measure as a wartime necessity aimed at ensuring institutional integrity amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.

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