Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy beat a hasty retreat on his proposed bill to curb the independence of two anti-corruption organisations last week after an intense round of street demonstrations, political and international protests against the measure. The episode tells an important story about Ukraine’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law in the middle of its war with Russia.
Ukraine was chronically prone to corruption in the two decades after achieving independence from Russia in 1991, as state assets were privatised and an oligarchy of economic magnates emerged and consolidated their power. Popular dissatisfaction with this was a powerful force behind the 2014 revolt which turned Ukraine decisively westwards towards Europe and away from any close alignment with Russia. Two anti-corruption bodies were set up in response to political pressure from the European Union and International Monetary Fund. They symbolise that new orientation internationally and their work within Ukraine is popularly seen as a guarantee that the rule of law continues to operate even in wartime.
The immediate street protests and international political reaction against the rapid passage of the bill through parliament last week shows how strongly these democratic instincts survive in Ukraine. Zelenskiy frankly acknowledged their concerns in justifying his retreat, saying the people’s voices must be heard. Any further moves to centralise authority around his office will be difficult amid widespread worries that he tried to protect powerful figures in his own entourage from corruption probes. The potential opportunities arising from huge aid flows to Ukraine are now more plainly visible.
Most Ukrainians are war weary yet remain determined to defend their independence even if that requires strategic compromises and concessions to Russian aggression. Pressures to agree a ceasefire and negotiate an end to the war will mount in coming months and may well be reciprocated from the Russian side as they too count the costs of the conflict.
