Ukraine: First protests against government since the beginning of the war despite corruption

Ukraine: First protests against government since the beginning of the war despite corruption

In Ukraine, the first major anti-government protests have taken place over three years ago since Russia began. These protests were triggered by a preliminary draft law by President Wolodymyr Selenskyj, which enabled the supervisory body of two important anti-corruption authorities. This led to a wave of outrage in the whole country.

protests in several cities

in the capital Kiev and in LWIW in the west and in Dnipro in the east gathered numerous people to express their displeasure. The Ukrainian Werchowna Rada, the country's parliament, had adopted a law that has given the Attorney General, a politically appointed figure, the supervision of the National Anti-corruption office of Ukraine (NABU) and the specialized anti-corruption attorney (SAPO).

criticism of legislation

Critics of the change in the law fear that this step undermines the independence of the two institutions and that Ukrainas' efforts to join the European Union. The EU has made it clear that Ukraine has to implement strict anti-corruption measures to achieve membership. The Biden government has also asked the Ukrainian government to do more in the fight against corruption.

corruption in the political system

Ukraine has long been considered one of the most corrupt countries in Europe. Allegations of corruption concern numerous high -ranking government members, including tight allies Selenskyjs, such as the former Vice Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov. However, Selenskyj defended his decision in a nightly speech in which he emphasized that both organizations would continue to work and that it was necessary to free them from “Russian influence”.

persistent opposites

opponents of the law warn that the independence of the two agencies is at risk, since the new law grants the general prosecutor's powers to influence investigations and even hire procedures. This concern penetrated to the front, where the military forces fight against the Russian troops. Yegor Firsov, a main sergeant of a drone attack platoon, sharply criticized corruption while his comrades are in use.

international echo on the protests

The Ukrainian branch of Transparency International emphasized the need for Selenskyj to reject the new law. They argued that the law endangers the independent anti-corruption institutions of Ukraine, which are considered one of the greatest achievements since the revolution of dignity in 2014

difficulties in European integration

The agency for legislative initiatives (ALI), a leading Ukrainian Think Tank, described the new law as an "180-degree turning point" in the efforts of European integration. Ali warned that the law gave the General Prosecutor almost unlimited powers, while the investigators of the SAPO were selected by a rigorous selection process with international specialist advice.

Selenskyjs promise against corruption

In the run -up to the 2019 elections, the fight against corruption of one of Selenskyj's central promise. His government was praised several times for its anti-corruption measures during the war, but the current criticism of the new legislation makes doubts about the motives. Critics argue that the Selenskyj platform to free the land of corruption has remained empty.

The reporting was supported by CNNS Victoria Butenko, Daria Tarasova-Markina and Max Saltman.