In a significant legislative turnaround, Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, voted unanimously to restore the independence of the country’s primary anti-corruption bodies, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). This move, garnering 331 votes in favor, came in response to a week of mass protests and marked a stark reversal from a previous law that had placed these agencies under the prosecutor general’s control.

Established in 2015 following the Euromaidan revolution, NABU and SAPO are pivotal in Ukraine's ongoing battle against high-level corruption. Their autonomy is not only crucial for maintaining internal integrity but is also a key component of Ukraine's aspirations for European Union membership and securing international aid.

The controversial law, No. 4555-IX, which was enacted on July 22, had granted the prosecutor general extensive powers over NABU and SAPO, including the authority to reassign cases and issue binding directives. This law was met with widespread domestic and international disapproval, as it was seen as a move that compromised judicial independence and hindered Ukraine’s EU integration process.

Responding to the public’s unrest and the pressure from Western entities, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expedited the process to reverse the law, which culminated in the swift passing and signing of the new legislation. “This is a guarantee of the proper independent functioning of Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies and all law enforcement agencies,” President Zelenskyy remarked upon signing the bill.

The mass protests that precipitated this legislative about-face were among the largest Ukraine has seen since the onset of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. Cities like Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, and Dnipro were key centers of civil activism where thousands voiced their opposition to the initial law.

The European Union, which had been critical of the July law, expressed satisfaction with the new developments. EU enlargement commissioner, Marta Kos, praised the Rada’s decision, emphasizing that “Upholding fundamental values & fighting corruption must remain the priority.”

Ukraine’s commitment to anti-corruption measures and reforms conducive to EU and NATO accession was reaffirmed by Foreign Minister Andrii Saybiha, who announced, “We got it fixed.” Echoing this sentiment, Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president’s office, celebrated the legislative correction, stating, “Everyone is a winner, but first and foremost, democratic Ukraine is the winner.”

This legislative reversal not only underscores the power of public opinion in shaping governance but also repositions Ukraine on its path toward greater integration with Western institutions.