Ukrainian protests: Zelensky faces biggest threat to his presidency since taking power

Protests have erupted in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities against a new law that threatens the independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption institutions.

- BY JENNIFER MATHERS Senior Lecturer in International Politics, Aberystwyth University

The legislation was hastily passed on 22 July, by Parliament, and signed by the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, that same day.

It places Ukraine's national anti-corruption bureau and its special anti-corruption prosecutor's office under the direct control of the Prosecutor General, one of Zelensky's appointed officials. Zelensky has argued that the measure was necessary to address Russian infiltration of anti-corruption bodies.

Critics of the measure, however, believe the real purpose of the law is to give the President the power to quash ongoing investigations into alleged corruption by members of his inner circle. These include his close ally and former Deputy Prime Minister, Oleksiy Chernyshov.

Politicians from opposition parties and civil society activists also regard the new law as an example of the President attempting to take advantage of wartime conditions to silence critics and consolidate power.

The protests have involved thousands of ordinary people.

This includes veterans of the war against Russia's invasion, some with visible war injuries, such as missing limbs. Anger at the attempt to curb the independence of anticorruption bodies has broken the informal agreement between the government and Ukrainian society to show a united front to the world while the war continues.

The protests may be the most serious domestic political challenge Zelensky has faced since he was elected president in 2019.

Ukrainians protest after Zelensky signs law clamping down on anti-corruption agencies.

Formally, Zelensky's political position is secure. His Servant of the People party holds the majority of seats in Parliament and governs without the constraints of coalition partners.