Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the head of the President's Office, told Channel 24 the details of the new bill and explained the procedure for its adoption.After widespread backlash over a previous proposal that threatened the autonomy of Ukraine’s key anti-corruption bodies, President Zelenskyy announced plans for a new legislative initiative designed to address concerns and ensure the integrity of the country’s law enforcement system. According to Mykhailo Podolyak, the new bill will be reviewed by parliamentary committees and then debated in the main chamber, with the process expected to be transparent and open to public scrutiny.Podolyak emphasized that the president’s proposal seeks to balance the interests of various social and political groups, acknowledging the complexity of such negotiations in a democratic society. He also noted that Ukraine’s Western allies have reacted strongly to any attempts to undermine anti-corruption institutions, insisting that Ukraine align its actions with European standards as it pursues closer integration with the West.The advisor highlighted that the active public protests and swift government response demonstrate a healthy relationship between Ukrainian society and the state, as well as a commitment to democratic values. Meanwhile, a group of 48 lawmakers from different factions has registered a separate bill in parliament to restore the independence of NABU and SAPO, with a vote expected as soon as July 25.BackgroundOn July 22, Zelenskyy signed into law a controversial bill passed by the Verkhovna Rada that significantly curtails the independence of NABU and SAPO. Several provisions shift key powers to the Prosecutor General’s Office — placing both bodies under the influence of the executive.The bill — draft law No. 12414 — amends the Criminal Code to:Allow the Prosecutor General to remove cases from NABU and assign them to other bodies;Effectively give the Prosecutor General supervisory control over SAPO, including the power to reassign its prosecutors;Grant the Prosecutor General authority to issue binding written instructions to NABU detectives;Permit the Prosecutor General to unilaterally close high-profile cases.Additionally, SAPO’s ability to determine investigative jurisdiction in some cases will be limited, and its chief will lose the authority to resolve disputes over which body should investigate certain cases or amend appeals filed by SAPO prosecutors.After signing the bill, Zelenskyy claimed that NABU and SAPO would continue their work and that the Prosecutor General was committed to ensuring genuine accountability.Still, the move triggered widespread protests in major cities across Ukraine. Thousands of citizens called on the president to veto the law, warning it weakens the country’s anti-corruption architecture at a time when transparency and rule of law are under intense scrutiny — both domestically and from international partners.