Updated from Jul 31, 15:15 p.m.: Parliament passed Zelenskyy’s bill restoring anti-corruption agencies independence (bill #13533). Zelenskyy signed it a few hours later.
UKRAINE, KHARKIV, Jul 31 — On July 30, Kharkiv residents joined the protest against bill #12414 (that after coming into effect, it became #5444) again.
The law compromises the independence of the Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies — the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) — by subordinating them to the Prosecutor’s General.
Since July 22 — when Zelenskyy signed the law — Ukrainians have regularly protested across the country to show they disagree with this decision.
On July 31, the Verkhovna Rada will vote for new bills, restoring the independence of anti-corruption agencies.
Up to 200 people, according to “Suspilne,” gathered in the city center. Gwara Media’s journalists have been to Freedom Square, one of the largest city squares in Europe, to speak with protesters.
The protest began at 7 p.m., but people started gathering an hour earlier. People brought cardboard signs with various slogans. They chanted words of support for NABU and SAPO, but also shouted, “we will change or we will die,” “corruption kills,” “those who are honest have nothing to fear.”
“I came out to show my support so that people wouldn’t say that only young people are here,” said Natalia. It is the first time she has joined the protest.
She also stressed that the authorities should support the people, not their own interests.
Rymma had just arrived in Kharkiv from Sweden, and she went to a protest the next day. She says she couldn’t stay on the sidelines after the attempt to limit the powers of the NABU and SAPO.
“It’s unbelievable that people can adopt such laws when we are at war. It’s not just bad, it’s anti-people. It has set us back a step from the European Union. I want them to stop thinking only about profits and their money, and to start thinking about the people. To be more humane,” Rymma said.
Stanislava attended the protest for the third time. She said that people in Ukraine are constantly confronted with corruption in our country, but have to do something about it.
“I believe that we need reorganization, not usurpation. We must do everything we can to change this. Human rights are always relevant. Please pay attention to the bills that support us, the people,” said Stanislava.
Also, the European Union expressed deep worries about the decision of the Ukrainian parliament to de-facto destroy the independence of anti-corruption infrastructure in Ukraine.
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