Protests over law restricting anti-corruption institutions held for third day in several Ukrainian cities – photos
People gathered in several Ukrainian cities on the evening of 24 July for the third day of protests against draft law No. 12414, which restricts the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO).
Source: Ukrainska Pravda correspondents; Suspilne; MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak on Facebook
Details: Protests in many Ukrainian cities began on 22 July. Among the protesters' demands is a veto on the law reducing the powers of NABU and SAPO.
Updated: People in Rivne, Lviv, Ternopil, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia and other cities also took to the streets.
MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak has reported that MP Mariia Bezuhla, who voted in favour of the law stripping NABU and SAPO of their independence, appeared at the protest in Kyiv – prompting chants of "Bezuhla out" from the crowd.
She was holding a sign that read: "Dismiss Syrskyi" [Ukraine's commander-in-chief – ed.].
Updated at 23:43: Ukrainska Pravda correspondents at the scene reported that after an air-raid warning was announced in Kyiv, the police advised people to proceed to shelters. Afterwards, individuals wearing balaclavas appeared and lit flares. Police officers from the department of preventative communication spoke with them.
Background:
- On 21 July, employees of the Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General's Office conducted approximately 80 searches targeting 19 employees of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau in various oblasts of Ukraine.
- On 22 July, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) voted in favour of draft law No. 12414, making NABU and SAPO dependent on the decisions of the prosecutor general. On the evening of 22 July, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the document.
- Protests were held in many cities across Ukraine following the adoption of this legislative initiative.
- The protests continued on 23 July.
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