Protests against the law that weakens the independence of NABU and SAPO continued for two consecutive days in Ukraine (video)
Protests against the law took place in Ukraine for two days in a row №12414, which was adopted by the Verkhovna Rada and signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyi. Protesters believe that this law undermines the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP). Actions were held simultaneously in 22 cities of the country.
“Demand to urgently announce a meeting of the Council! Because they still do not understand how important it is. Shout, write, send letters to your deputies to return to Kyiv. The meeting must and can be recognized by the Servant of the people. So this should be one of the demands from the people now.”, – noted People’s Deputy of Ukraine Yaroslav Zheleznyak.
In Kyiv, the protest started at 20:00 near the Ivan Franko Theater. People held placards with the inscriptions: “The destruction of institutions is the destruction of democracy”, “Do not take a step back – it is an abyss”, “The enemy is corruption, not the institution”, “We will not allow anyone to stain the glory or honor of our nation”, “Hands off NABU and SAP”. According to the Kyiv police, more than 9,000 people took part in the rally. The protest lasted until late at night.
In Ternopil, more than 50 representatives of youth NGOs “Prava Molod” and “Sokil” gathered for a protest near the building of the regional military administration. Other townspeople also joined them. Those present held placards with the slogans “The source of power is the people”, “I did not vote for this”, “Independence is under threat”, “12414 is the number of treason”, “Veto on law 12414”. They shouted: “Law 12414 harms the Ukrainian nation”, “An independent Ukraine needs an independent NABU”. The participants called on the drivers to honk in support.
In Zhytomyr, on July 23, residents held two protest actions at the building of the regional military administration. Both actions were directed against Law No. 12414, which, according to the protesters, effectively destroys the independence of anti-corruption bodies. One of the actions was general, the other was student.
In Kharkiv, protesters gathered near the “Everything for Victory” tent on Freedom Square. As Yevhen Lisichkin, one of the organizers of the event and co-founder of the Kharkiv Anti-Corruption Center, told Suspilno, as of 7:30 p.m., about a thousand people took part in the action. At the same time, according to the police, 400 people were in the city center at 19:00.
