❓WHAT HAPPENED: Ukrainian lawmakers passed a bill reinstating the independence of anti-corruption agencies after protests. Two politicians fought in the chamber during the session.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, European Union (EU) officials, and members of Ukraine’s parliament.
📍WHEN & WHERE: July 31, 2025, during a parliamentary session in Kiev, Ukraine.
💬KEY QUOTE: “This guarantees the normal, independent work of anti-corruption bodies and all law enforcement agencies in our country. It is the right decision.” – Volodymyr Zelensky
🎯IMPACT: The decision restores Ukraine’s anti-corruption safeguards, addresses public outcry, and aligns with EU governance rules.
Ukraine’s parliament voted on July 31 to reestablish the autonomy of its two key anti-corruption bodies, responding to widespread domestic and international criticism over a recent law placing them under the government’s control. The measure passed unanimously, with 331 lawmakers voting in favor, marking a significant political reversal for President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The parliamentary session was notable for being the first to be broadcast live since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and it reflected the gravity of the situation. Tensions ran high inside the chamber, culminating in a punch-up between two politicians. The cause of the scuffle remains uncertain.
President Zelensky addressed the nation following the vote, acknowledging the strong reaction, including protests in several cities, that the prior law had triggered. “It is very important that the state listens to public opinion,” he said. He emphasized that the new law secures the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), which was gutted by previous legislation.
The controversy began when Zelensky signed a law that transferred oversight of the anti-corruption bodies to the office of the prosecutor general, who is under Zelensky’s control. Critics, including European Union (EU) officials and human rights groups, saw this as a significant rollback of anti-corruption reforms. The backlash was swift: thousands of Ukrainians took to the streets in Kiev, protesting despite ongoing martial law, and efforts by Zelensky to claim the anti-corruption bodies had been infiltrated by Russia.
The independence of NABU and SAPO has long been regarded as critical to Ukraine’s aspirations for European Union membership and continued access to Western financial support. Both agencies have played pivotal roles in investigating high-level corruption, including cases involving senior government officials.
🚨 Ukrainian MPs brawl as anti-corruption bill passes
MPs voted 331 to 0 in favour of the bill today in Kyiv’s 450-seat legislature to restore their independence pic.twitter.com/ONFVlXllZ4
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) July 31, 2025
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