Hundreds of protesters have gathered to oppose the measure at a rarely seen show of rebel outrage since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky has signed a bill to revoke the autonomy of major anti-corruption agencies.
Critics say the law will unite power at Zelensky’s hands and allow the government to interfere in famous corruption cases.
The European Union called the decision a “serious step” on Tuesday, with hundreds gathering in central Kiev to oppose the measure. It’s a show of rebel fury rarely seen since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Some protesters cried out, “I refuse the law!”
“The bill is in a hurry,” 26-year-old game designer Anastasia told AFP News.
“It’s clear that this is a targeted effort,” she added.
The bill grants the new powers of prosecutors in investigations and cases handled by the National Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the specialized Anti-Corruption Public Prosecutors’ Office (SAPO).
NABU investigates cases of corruption between state systems, and SAPO prosecutes corruption.
The passage of the bill through parliament drew sharp criticism from the heads of both agencies, and civil protests were the biggest since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022.
Many influential Ukrainians also raged on social media after Tuesday’s vote, calling it a betrayal of Ukraine’s decade-long geopolitical ambition.
The fight against corruption is important to join the EU in Ukraine and maintain access to billions of dollars with Western aid. It is also considered important in eliminating the legacy of Russian rule. This is the sentiment that echoed through the protests in Kiev.
18-year-old Vladyslava Kirstyuk said that childhood memories in occupied eastern Ukraine left a strong impression on her after the secret Russian invasion in 2014.
“I know what it means to have one person all power when there’s no transparency and everything is working against you,” the teenager told Reuters.
“I don’t want to do the same for us here.”
On Monday, Ukraine’s domestic security agency detained two NABU officials on suspicion of ties with Russia and searched for employees from other agencies on unrelated allegations.
Nabu revealed widespread corruption, including figures from Zelenskyy’s administration.
Last week, the president carried out a re-shuffle of his wartime cabinet. This is widely seen as the further integration within his inner circle.
