President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed into law a bill restoring previously rescinded guarantees of institutional independence for Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). The signature followed the bill’s approval in the Verkhovna Rada on 31 July by a substantial majority of 331 MPs.
The presidential signature was issued less than two hours after the parliamentary vote, an unusually swift process. The law aims to reverse amendments adopted earlier in July that had subordinated NABU and SAPO to the authority of the Prosecutor General, raising concerns among domestic civil society and Ukraine’s international partners about the integrity of the country’s anti-corruption infrastructure.
Announcing the decision on his official Telegram channel, Zelenskyy stated: “I want to thank all members of parliament for adopting my bill – now a law. I have just signed the document. It will be published immediately. This is a guarantee of proper, independent functioning of our anti-corruption bodies and all law enforcement agencies in the country. The decision is correct. Three hundred and thirty-one deputies – exactly what is needed – voted for it both as a basis and in full.”
The president further emphasised the role of public sentiment in influencing the legislative reversal, stating: “It is very important that the state listens to public opinion. Ukraine is a democracy – there is no doubt about that. Officials will immediately inform Ukraine’s partners about the law.”
The legislation, adopted and enacted at speed, reinstates institutional safeguards that were removed when the Verkhovna Rada passed Law No. 12414 on 22 July. That law introduced amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code, effectively placing NABU and SAPO under the supervision of the Prosecutor General. Zelenskyy signed the original bill into law on the evening of the same day.
The move triggered a wave of public opposition. Demonstrations were held in multiple cities across Ukraine, with civil society groups and legal experts warning that the new provisions undermined Ukraine’s international commitments and weakened its capacity to fight high-level corruption independently.
In response to the backlash, Zelenskyy submitted a new draft law to the Verkhovna Rada aimed at reinstating full autonomy for the two institutions. He presented the measure as necessary both for the preservation of institutional independence and for maintaining public trust in the system of law enforcement.
On the morning of 31 July, a peaceful protest was held outside the parliament in support of the new bill. Demonstrators called on lawmakers to restore NABU and SAPO’s independence and safeguard the principles of democratic oversight and rule of law.
Parliamentary Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk signed the bill into law immediately following its adoption by MPs. The expedited procedure – informally referred to as “turbo mode” – allowed for minimal delay between the legislative and executive stages of the process.
The rapid turnaround appeared aimed at addressing not only domestic concerns but also those expressed by international partners. Ukraine’s progress in establishing functional, independent anti-corruption institutions has been closely monitored by bodies including the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. The independence of NABU and SAPO has also been a factor in ongoing discussions regarding Ukraine’s EU accession process and continued financial assistance.
Observers note that while the latest development restores the formal guarantees of independence, the episode has highlighted the fragility of institutional reforms in the face of political and administrative pressures. It has also underscored the role of public mobilisation and international engagement in shaping governance outcomes in Ukraine.
The full text of the new law has not yet been published at time of writing, but government officials have indicated that it will restore the procedural and functional autonomy of NABU and SAPO, ensuring that their operations are not subject to prosecutorial directives or external interference.
The issue of anti-corruption reform remains a key test for Ukraine’s democratic institutions, particularly in the context of the ongoing war and efforts to maintain rule-of-law standards amid martial law and national emergency.
Zelenskyy’s decision to rapidly correct course may be seen as an effort to reaffirm Ukraine’s commitment to its reform agenda, and to signal responsiveness to both domestic civil society and international partners. However, the speed and reversibility of legislative changes continue to prompt scrutiny regarding the institutional resilience of Ukraine’s legal and political system.
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