Parliament passes controversial anti-corruption reform bill amid public reaction and planned protests
Recently, Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada reviewed and approved a contentious bill numbered 12414, which has sparked widespread debate among politicians and civil activists alike. Reports indicate that President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed this document, containing significant changes to the country's anti-corruption agencies—specifically, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NAIBU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP). However, there is no official confirmation of the signing on the parliament’s official website yet, leading to uncertainty and dissatisfaction among opposition forces and civic organizations. Supporters argue that the bill is necessary to optimize the work of anti-corruption institutions and improve the effectiveness of corruption fighting. Critics, on the other hand, warn that it could undermine the independence of NAIBU and SAP, as the new law grants Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko the de facto control over all corruption-related criminal cases. This would allow him to directly oversee investigations, seize high-profile cases from NAIBU, transfer them to other investigatory bodies, or terminate them without proper due process. Such changes threaten to concentrate unchecked power in the hands of the Prosecutor General, casting doubt on the independence of these structures. Participants fear that this could lead to the dismantling of the anti-corruption system and enable corruption schemes to flourish. Already, warnings and concerns have been expressed by European Union officials and international partners regarding the potential negative impacts on Ukraine’s EU integration process. The European Commission has indicated that the recent decision by the Ukrainian Parliament will influence the annual assessment of progress towards EU membership scheduled for late October. Following the adoption of the bill, it was signed by the Speaker of Parliament and sent to the President for final approval. Meanwhile, Kyiv is preparing for a large-scale protest action. Veteran soldier Dmitro Kozyatynskyi announced that at 8:00 pm, a demonstration will be held at Ivan Franko Theatre Square. He urged citizens to come without symbols or organizers to keep the protest peaceful and to draw attention to the concerns. International experts and EU representatives have emphasized that while funding continues, they remain deeply concerned about the state of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies. The European Union’s decision on the matter could significantly impact the upcoming assessment of Ukraine’s progress in EU integration, planned for late October.