Zelensky signs bill ensuring anti-corruption agencies’ ‘independence’
Kyiv’s European allies supported the new legislation after worrying previous changes would undermine reforms key to Ukraine’s bid to join the EU
President Volodymyr Zelensky signed new legislation on Thursday restoring the “independence” of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies, reversing changes that had sparked large-scale protests and criticism from the European Union.
He inked the bill shortly after lawmakers gave their backing for the changes, which was also approved in advance by the anti-corruption bodies.
Kyiv’s European allies supported the new legislation after worrying the previous change to the law would undermine anti-corruption reforms key to Ukraine’s bid to join the EU.
“The law guarantees the absence of any external influence or interference,” the Ukrainian leader wrote on social media, announcing he had approved the bill.
“It is very important that the state listens to public opinion. It hears its citizens. Ukraine is a democracy,” he added, in an apparent message to Ukrainians who had demanded the changes.
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said after the vote in parliament that the result was “a clear response to the expectations of society and our European partners”.