This Monday evening, hundreds of Ukrainians gathered to protest against a controversial law that undermines the independence of the country’s leading anti-corruption bodies, NABU (National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine) and SAP (Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office), by placing them under the control of the prosecutor general. First country-wide protests since Russia's full-scale invasion began.

They rallied in Kyiv and other major cities of Ukraine, despite the active phase of war, to speak out and oppose the legislation that is aimed to distance Ukraine from a democratic future and rollback changes made since the Yanukovych term. Something that protects not only Ukrainians, but also queer Ukrainians that comprise the LGBTQIA+ community we represent.

FUR/HELP stands firmly in support of Ukrainian people and their unwavering commitment to fair and democratic Ukraine. Ukraine where anti-corruption bodies are independent, where journalists can work without fear of persecution. We join them in protest and call for the international community to apply pressure on the Ukrainian government to veto this law, as it directly undermines democracy and rule of law.