Young Ukrainians get their way as Zelensky overturns law to defuse crisis

The Ukrainian parliament has voted to restore the independence of two anti-corruption agencies, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), following large-scale protests by young Ukrainians. The protests were sparked by a law passed in September 2019 that undermined the independence of these agencies, which are crucial in the fight against corruption in the country. The law had given the president and other officials more control over the appointment and dismissal of the heads of NABU and SAPO. President Volodymyr Zelensky, who had initially supported the law, has now reversed his position and signed the bill to restore the independence of the anti-corruption agencies. This move is seen as a response to the public pressure exerted by the young Ukrainians, who have been at the forefront of the protests. The decision is a significant victory for the anti-corruption movement in Ukraine and a demonstration of the power of grassroots activism to influence the country's political landscape.