Editor’s note: This editorial has been updated to reflect the fact Zelensky signed the bill into law on the evening of July 22, as shown on the Parliament's website. Last week, we warned of a coming anti-democratic backslide. Now, we see it happening. A parliamentary vote, led by President Volodymyr Zelensky’s lawmakers, today took away the independence of Ukraine’s key anti-corruption bodies — the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). Z

Last week, we warned of a coming anti-democratic backslide. Now, we see it happening.

Under the new law, the prosecutor general, a notoriously non-independent figure, will now oversee anti-corruption investigations — in a complete overturn of the system that was set up to be independent from other law enforcement bodies.

In reality, it means that Zelensky’s office will be able to stop investigations with a phone call.

It also closely follows an escalated prosecution of Ukraine’s best-known anti-corruption activist, an outspoken critic of Zelensky.

  • buddascrayon@lemmy.world
    26·
    3 days ago

    Sadly I think this was bound to happen. Zelenskyy has been not only fighting the physical war with Russia but also a prolonged propaganda war and the measures he’s used to fight against the mass of disinformation flowing out of Putin’s bullshit machine were bound to be corrupt by their very nature. You can see the paranoia that has set in as he was not only attacked by the east but now with Trump in office, he started getting it from the west as well. I fear that it’s only going to be downhill from here.