Thousands Rally in Kyiv Against Law Restricting Anti-Graft Agencies

 Over 5,000 protesters gathered in central Kyiv on July 23, 2025, to oppose a new law curbing the powers of anti-corruption agencies, marking a significant public outcry against perceived government overreach. 

The legislation, passed by the Verkhovna Rada on July 20, limits the National Anti-Corruption Bureau’s (NABU) investigative scope and introduces oversight by a presidentially appointed council. Demonstrators, including activists and opposition leaders, decried it as a step toward shielding corrupt officials amid Russia’s ongoing war.

The government, led by President Volodymyr Zelensky, defends the law as a reform to streamline anti-corruption efforts, citing inefficiencies that have stalled 30% of cases since 2022. Critics, however, point to a 15% drop in convictions this year, suggesting political interference. 

The narrative of protest versus reform highlights a deepening divide, with the rally’s scale, amplified by wartime solidarity, pressuring lawmakers to reconsider, though no amendments have been promised.