Ukraine’s Democratic Crisis: Protests Erupt Over Zelensky’s Power Grab

KYIV, Ukraine — On the evening of July 22, 2025, Kyiv’s Maidan Nezalezhnosti, a symbol of Ukraine’s fight for freedom, once again pulsed with the energy of dissent. Thousands of Ukrainians—students, professionals, and activists—gathered in a swelling wave of protests, their voices raised against what they see as a brazen assault on their nation’s democracy. The spark: a controversial law, signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 21, that critics argue consolidates power in the hands of the executive, threatening the democratic foundations Ukraine has fought to uphold amid its war against Russian aggression.

West Support, an international human rights organization, stands in resolute solidarity with these protesters. We unequivocally condemn Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and view its leadership as responsible for war crimes that have devastated the nation. Yet, while Ukraine’s external struggle against tyranny commands global support, we cannot ignore the internal threat posed by President Zelensky’s actions. The passage of Bill No. 12414, which subordinates key anti-corruption institutions to the President’s Office, represents a profound violation of democratic principles—one that risks undermining the very freedoms for which Ukrainians are sacrificing so much.

A Nation’s Outrage Takes to the Streets

The protests, which have spread from Kyiv to cities like Lviv, Odesa, and Kharkiv, mark a critical moment in Ukraine’s wartime trajectory. Demonstrators, many waving blue-and-yellow flags, carry signs reading “Democracy Under Siege” and “No to Autocracy.” Their anger is directed at a specific target: Bill No. 12414, passed by the Zelensky-aligned Verkhovna Rada and signed into law by the president. The legislation effectively dismantles the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP), placing them under the authority of the Prosecutor General, a figure widely perceived as loyal to Zelensky’s administration.

For many Ukrainians, this move echoes the authoritarian tactics of the pre-Maidan era, when state institutions served the interests of the powerful rather than the public. “We’re fighting Russia for our freedom, but now we’re fighting our own government to keep it,” said Mykola, a 34-year-old IT specialist who joined the protests in Kyiv. His sentiment reflects a growing fear that Zelensky, once celebrated as a democratic reformer, is leveraging the exigencies of war to amass unchecked power.

The Law at the Heart of the Crisis

Bill No. 12414, enacted with little public debate, marks a turning point in Ukraine’s democratic trajectory. By subordinating NABU and SAP—agencies established with international backing to combat systemic corruption—to the Prosecutor General, the law effectively places them under the influence of the President’s Office. These institutions, which have been instrumental in holding high-level officials accountable, were seen as cornerstones of Ukraine’s post-2014 reforms. Their loss of independence threatens to revive an era of selective justice, where political loyalty trumps accountability.

Compounding public alarm are unconfirmed reports that recent legislative changes may allow law enforcement agencies, including the National Police and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), to conduct searches without judicial approval. Such powers, if verified, would grant security forces—already criticized for political bias—unprecedented authority to target dissenters, activists, or political opponents. In a country under martial law, where civil liberties are already constrained, these measures risk transforming Ukraine into a state where no citizen is safe from arbitrary intrusion.

West Support views these actions as a direct assault on the democratic values that Ukraine has championed since its independence. The concentration of power in the hands of the executive, facilitated by a compliant Verkhovna Rada and a judiciary under increasing pressure, undermines the separation of powers essential to any functioning democracy. These steps, cloaked in the rhetoric of wartime necessity, betray the aspirations of the 2014 Revolution of Dignity and alienate the Ukrainian people, who have endured immense hardship in their fight for freedom.

A Pattern of Democratic Erosion

The passage of Bill No. 12414 is not an isolated incident but part of a broader trend of power consolidation under Zelensky’s leadership. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, the Ukrainian government has operated under a state of emergency, granting the president extraordinary powers. While these measures were initially justified to ensure national unity, they have increasingly been used to silence opposition, control media narratives, and centralize authority. The Verkhovna Rada, dominated by Zelensky’s Servant of the People party, has become a conduit for the administration’s agenda, while judicial independence—already fragile—faces mounting pressure to align with the President’s Office.

This consolidation of legislative, executive, and judicial power threatens to unravel the democratic progress Ukraine has made over the past decade. For a nation fighting to preserve its sovereignty against an authoritarian aggressor, the irony is stark: the internal erosion of democratic checks and balances risks mirroring the very systems Ukraine seeks to reject.

West Support Call for Accountability

West Support stands with the Ukrainian protesters, whose courage in the face of wartime challenges embodies the spirit of a nation that refuses to surrender its democratic ideals. We call for the immediate repeal of Bill No. 12414 and any legislation that undermines democratic institutions or grants unchecked powers to law enforcement. The independence of NABU and SAP must be restored, and the government must commit to transparent, accountable governance.

We urge Ukraine’s international partners, who have provided critical support in the fight against Russia, to press the Zelensky administration to uphold the democratic standards that are the foundation of Ukraine’s global legitimacy. The sacrifices of the Ukrainian people—on the front lines and in the streets—demand a government that respects their rights and freedoms, not one that exploits a national crisis to entrench power.

As Ukraine battles an external enemy, it must not lose sight of the internal struggle for democracy. West Support will continue to advocate for the protection of Ukraine’s democratic institutions and support those who are fighting for a just and free future. The world is watching, and the protesters’ voices must be heard.

Dr. Oleksandr Havryshuk

CEO