The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Daily: Insider’s View of Zelensky’s Anti-Corruption Fiasco
Aug 14, 2025
Anastasiia Radina, a member of the Ukrainian parliament and head of the parliamentary committee on anti-corruption work, shares a revealing perspective on Ukraine’s recent turmoil. She discusses how governmental actions threaten independent anti-corruption agencies, leading to nationwide protests. Radina highlights legislative changes that centralize control over corruption investigations, revealing political challenges and the implications for democracy. This tumult intertwines with the evolving role of Western partners in supporting Ukraine’s anti-corruption efforts, shaping the path toward European integration.
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Blitzkrieg Amendments Inserted At Last Minute
- The amendments were slipped into an unrelated bill and published minutes before the vote, catching many MPs unaware.
- Radina obtained the committee decision and raised the alarm about how it stripped SAPO of independent powers.
Origins Of Ukraine's Anti-Corruption System
- Ukraine built a new, independent anti-corruption infrastructure starting in 2014 to investigate and prosecute high-level corruption.
- NABU, SAPO, and the High Anti-Corruption Court completed the system by 2019 and depended on mutual independence to work.
Prosecutor General's New Control
- The bill transferred decision-making power over NABU/SAPO case steps to the politically appointed prosecutor general.
- That change would make anti-corruption probes subject to a political appointee's will, undermining independence.