Democracy Dies in Darkness

Ukraine adopts new anti-corruption law as protests force Zelensky to retreat

The Ukrainian parliament acted to undo changes to two anti-corruption offices after mass protests forced President Volodymyr Zelensky to reverse course.

6 min
Protesters outside the Ukrainian parliament in Kyiv celebrate on Thursday after lawmakers approved a bill restoring the independence of the country's two main anti-corruption bodies. (Tetiana Dzhafarova/AFP/Getty Images)

KYIV — Ukraine’s parliament approved legislation Thursday restoring the independence of the country’s two main government anti-corruption bodies — a move demanded by Kyiv’s international partners as well as tens of thousands of enraged Ukrainians who protested on the streets of the capital and other cities.

The legislation passed by a comfortable margin, with 331 deputies voting in favor; a majority of 226 was needed. It was a stunning about-face by the same lawmakers who just last week had supported the previous law undermining the agencies, which drew public fury.

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