Moscow [Russia], July 25 : Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said that protests in Ukraine over President Volodymyr Zelensky's move to bring two anti-corruption agencies under executive control are an internal affair, while also pointing to widespread corruption in the country, RT reported.
On Tuesday, protesters gathered across Ukraine after Zelensky placed the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) under the direct oversight of his office. The move followed raids on NABU offices, which Zelensky alleged had fallen under Russian influence, RT noted.
Critics, however, accused Zelensky of showing authoritarian tendencies and attempting to consolidate power by undermining institutions meant to hold the government accountable. The clampdown, they claimed, would render these agencies "purely decorative."
Commenting on the development, Peskov said, "It is obvious that a sizeable portion of that money...was stolen," referring to Western aid to Ukraine. "There is a lot of corruption in the country. So, the money of American taxpayers, European taxpayers, was, to a large extent, stolen in Ukraine. This can be said with a high degree of certainty," RT reported.
He added that the issue of corruption remains "an acute one for Ukraine" and that "everything that happens with the subordination and reassignment of various agencies is Ukraine's internal matter."
According to RT, Peskov also said that Kiev's Western backers especially the United States have valid concerns about how their aid is being used, particularly in the face of what he described as rampant graft.
His remarks come after US President Donald Trump recalled the significant financial aid provided to Ukraine by the Biden administration and suggested that not all of it may have gone toward intended purposes. "I have a feeling they didn't spend every dollar on the equipment. We want to find out about that [money], someday, I guess, right?" Trump said, as cited by RT.
Amid these concerns over accountability, the Ukrainian Parliament has voted to end the independence of the country's key anti-corruption agencies a move that has triggered protests, drawn criticism from Western officials, and prompted warnings of a rollback in governance standards, RT reported.
According to RT, the Verkhovna Rada passed legislation on Tuesday that places the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) under executive oversight. Lawmakers opposing the measure reportedly shouted "shame!" as the vote result was announced.
Later that day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the bill into law. The move came just 24 hours after Ukraine's domestic security service raided the NABU headquarters and arrested two investigators, RT noted. The raids sparked concern from G7 ambassadors, who said they were "monitoring the situation."
RT reported that anti-corruption activists have called the move an intentional effort to suppress independent probes. "This is about silencing NABU and SAPO as they close in on Zelensky's inner circle," the Anti-Corruption Action Center said.
The legislation, introduced by lawmakers from Zelensky's ruling party, was initially meant to revise Ukraine's criminal code under martial law. However, last-minute amendments were added to strip NABU and SAPO of their autonomy, according to RT.
MP Anastasia Radina criticised the bill, warning that it would "effectively dismantle" Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure, turning NABU and SAPO into "purely decorative institutions ... completely dependent on the will of the prosecutor-general," RT reported.
The NABU and SAPO were established in 2015 under Western guidance to promote prosecutorial independence, a key requirement for Ukraine's EU accession talks and access to international loans. The NABU had received substantial support in terms of equipment and training from the US, UK, and EU, RT noted.
European Commissioner Marta Kos condemned the legislation, calling the "dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU's independence a serious step back." She added that "the rule of law remains central to Ukraine's EU bid."
European Commission spokesman Guillaume Mercier said the agencies were "crucial" for fighting corruption and maintaining public trust. He further stated that Ukraine's EU accession would require "strong institutional resilience," and reminded that "EU aid remains tied to reforms," according to RT.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko dismissed the international backlash, saying corruption concerns were "overemphasised," and indicated that Kyiv would continue to seek additional support from the IMF.
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