KYIV: Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky said his government had heard protesters opposing a law revoking the independence of anti-corruption agencies and had responded by proposing new legislation.
The adoption of the bill, which curbed the powers of two anti-graft bodies, triggered the biggest public protests in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion and drew criticism from Kyiv’s European allies.
“It is absolutely normal to react when people don’t want something or when they dislike something,” Zelensky said in comments released to journalists on Friday, adding it was “very important that we listened and responded adequately.”
“For me, it was very important that we listened and responded adequately,” Zelensky added.
The government has since submitted a bill aimed at restoring the independence of the anti-graft bodies – the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).
It remains to be seen whether parliament, mostly loyal to Zelensky, will approve the draft law.
Zelensky acknowledged there should “probably have been more of a dialogue” before the law was adopted.
“I am focused on the issue of the war because right now, the number one issue in Ukraine is the war. The biggest problem is the war. The main enemy is Russia.”
