Zelenskyy promises safeguards after protests of anti-corruption law

Zelenskyy acknowledged the controversy triggered by the new anti-corruption law, which also drew rebukes from European Union officials and international rights groups.

Opponents of a new law they say strips Ukraine’s anti-corruption watchdogs of their independence called for a third straight day of street protests across the country Thursday, despite President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s attempts to defuse the tension with promises of legislative safeguards.

After meeting with the heads of Ukraine’s key anti-corruption and security agencies, Zelenskyy promised to act on their recommendations by presenting a bill to Parliament that strengthens the rule of law.

“And very importantly: all the norms for the independence of anti-corruption institutions will be in place,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address late Wednesday.

Zelenskyy acknowledged the controversy triggered by the new corruption law, which also drew rebukes from European Union officials and international rights groups.

“It’s not falling on deaf ears,” Zelenskyy said of the complaints. “We’ve analyzed all the concerns, all the aspects of what needs to be changed and what needs to be stepped up.”

However, he didn’t promise to revoke the law that he approved.

The legislation that was adopted this week, despite pleas for Zelenskyy to veto it, tightened government oversight of two key anti-corruption agencies. Critics said the step could significantly weaken the independence of those agencies and give Zelenskyy’s circle greater influence over investigations.

The protests haven’t called for Zelenskyy’s ouster. But the first major anti-government demonstrations since the war began come at a tough time for Ukraine in its three-year battle to thwart Russia’s invasion.