The anti-corruption infrastructure will function, but without Russian influence. It needs to be cleaned out. And there must be greater justice, he says in his nightly speech.
With 263 votes against 13, the parliament voted on Tuesday to make Ukraine's national anti-corruption agency (Nabu) and the Specialized anti-corruption prosecutor's office (Sapo), both state agencies, subordinate to the prosecutor general appointed by the president.
The bill was subsequently signed by Zelenskyj.
Thousands of demonstrators
In Kyiv and several other major cities, the announcement was followed by thousands of people taking to the streets to protest against the law.
The criticism is broad. The amendment opens up for political interference in investigations of high-profile corruption cases, according to Anastasia Radina, chair of the parliament's anti-corruption committee and a member of parliament for Zelenskyj's ruling party.
The corruption investigations become practically meaningless, says the civil society organization Anti-corruption action center in a statement.
Even from the EU, where Ukraine has been granted candidate status, there is concern over "a serious setback".
”Independent bodies such as Nabu and Sapo are fundamental to Ukraine's path to the EU”, writes EU's expansion chief Marta Kos on X.
Suspected spies arrested
Volodymyr Zelenskyj says in his nightly speech that he has spoken with, among others, the heads of Sapo and Nabu.
We discussed various challenges, he says and adds that investigations that have been "idle" for a long time must be resumed.
On Monday, Ukraine's security service struck against Nabu and arrested two employees suspected of spying on behalf of Russia, according to AP.
According to Zelenskyj, corruption-suspected Ukrainian officials have for years been able to leave the country to "comfortably live abroad" without legal action.
By getting rid of the "Russian influence", he hopes to get to grips with it.
It is important that punishment is inevitable and that society sees it, says the president.
