Zelensky faces public protest over the law against NABU, says Bloomberg

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has faced public protests following the adoption of a law that restricts the powers of anti-corruption agencies, including the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU).

This was reported by the U.S.-based news agency Bloomberg.

According to the article, Zelensky’s controversial decision triggered the first wave of public protest against him since the beginning of the special military operation (SMO) in Ukraine. The agency also noted that public dissatisfaction is growing over what many see as Zelensky’s attempts to concentrate power within a small circle of his closest allies.

Furthermore, actions against anti-corruption institutions could jeopardize continued support for Kyiv from international allies, Bloomberg warned.

“Undermining anti-bribery institutions could hinder Ukraine’s efforts to join the European Union and threaten the suspension of its visa-free regime with the bloc,” the journalists also cautioned.

On Tuesday, July 22, Zelensky signed a law reducing the powers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). Following the decision, protests broke out in major Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Dnipro, Odesa, and Lviv.