Mass Protests in Ukraine: Rallies Against Law №12414 and the Erosion of NABU and SAP’s Independence
Ukraine is currently witnessing large-scale protest actions across the country in response to the adoption of Law №12414, which significantly restricts the autonomy and independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP).
Demonstrations are taking place not only in Kyiv, where the daily rally near the Ivan Franko Theatre gathers increasing numbers of participants, but also in numerous other cities.
Citizens have united to express their discontent over the law passed on July 22 by the Verkhovna Rada, which amended the criminal procedural code and effectively led to the loss of independence of these critical anti-corruption agencies.
According to organizers, thousands have gathered across various regions, protesting the interference in the judicial system.
Protesters assembled in Kharkiv in Shevchenko Garden near the university, in Odesa opposite the City Garden, in Chernivtsi at the Central Square, in Lviv near Taras Shevchenko Monument, in Vinnytsia at Maidan Nебесної сотні, in Mykolaiv at the intersection of Central Avenue and Soborna Street, in Dnipro near the Ukraine Hotel, in Poltava by the City Theatre, in Khmelnytskyi near Shevchenko Cinema, in Chernihiv outside the Chernihiv Regional State Administration, in Ivano-Frankivsk near the regional government building, in Zaporizhzhia on Shevchenko Boulevard, in Uzhhorod near the city council, in Kryvyi Rih at the flagpole, and in Ternopil near the regional administrative building.
These protests are a response to the legislation that destabilizes the separation of powers.
The final vote saw 263 deputies in favor, raising concerns over the future independence of NABU and SAP.
Human rights organizations emphasize that the law effectively hampers the ability of these agencies to conduct independent investigations, as the Prosecutor General now has full access to case materials, opening avenues for political influence and abuse.