Zelensky reverses course on reining in anti-graft agencies after protests

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky approved draft legislation on July 24 that he said would restore the independence of the country's anti-corruption agencies, reversing course after an outburst of public criticism and the first wartime street protests.

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KYIV - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky approved draft legislation on July 24 that he said would restore the independence of the country's anti-corruption agencies, reversing course after an outburst of public criticism and the first wartime street protests.

Measures enacted earlier this week that established greater control by the prosecutor-general, a political appointee, over the two bodies had fuelled rare wartime protests and had thrown Kyiv's EU bid into question.

Mr Zelensky said on X that he had approved the draft for submission to Parliament later in the day.

"It is important that we are maintaining unity. It is important that we are preserving independence. It is important that we respect the position of all Ukrainians," he said.

Mr Zelensky, whose image as a tireless leader of the three-year-old war against Russia's invasion has been tarnished by the controversy, said the text of the new Bill is "well-balanced".

He did not give further details, saying only that it "guarantees real strengthening of Ukraine's law enforcement system, independence of anti-corruption agencies, and reliable protection...against any Russian influence".