Volodymyr Zelensky has promised to reverse a crackdown on Ukraine’s anticorruption agencies following street protests.

Thousands of people gathered in the streets of Kyiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday night to protest moves by President Volodymyr Zelensky’s government to weaken anticorruption institutions, in the country’s first major antigovernment demonstration in three and a half years of war.

This editorial has been updated to reflect the fact Zelensky signed the bill into law on the evening of July 22, as shown on the Parliament's website. Last week, we warned of a coming anti-democratic backslide.

Zelensky accused the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office of being infiltrated by Russian agents.

President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a bill limiting two Ukrainian anticorruption agencies. After street protests and other criticism, he said he would propose a new law restoring their independence.

Protesters rallied across Ukraine on Tuesday evening after President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law tightening control over key anti-corruption agencies, a move critics say threatens their independence and risks undermining EU ties and billions in Western aid.

Fighting entrenched corruption is crucial for Ukraine’s aspirations to join the EU and maintain access to billions of dollars in western aid.