On August 3rd, a live podcast with MP Roman Gryshchuk covered recent mass protests triggered by the Ukrainian parliament’s decision on changes to NABU and SAP operations, as well as fundraising efforts for drones for Ukraine’s security and defense forces.
The discussion focused on the controversial vote of July 22, where parliamentary amendments removed the independence of anti-corruption bodies. Gryshchuk, one of the MPs who voted against it, explained his position: the decision, in his view, was made with regulatory violations and without prior notification to many MPs, ignoring predictable public outcry. The ensuing large protests were described by Gryshchuk as a responsible and peaceful demonstration of youth civic engagement.
Following the protests, parliament reversed its position, and within a week, a new bill restored NABU and SAP’s independence. Gryshchuk highlighted the critical influence of public pressure and international partners. The talk also addressed the role of dialogue police during protests and the broader need for continued dialogue within society.
The conversation shifted to education reform: changes in secondary and higher education, teacher motivation, the introduction of the "Defense of Ukraine" subject for both boys and girls, the creation of educational centers for drone training, and the implementation of supervisory boards in universities. The podcast also discussed benefits for military personnel and children of fallen soldiers during university admissions, as well as current pension system reforms and demographic challenges.
Gryshchuk answered audience questions about parliamentary transparency, balancing access to higher education and avoiding military draft, political plans, the influence of media visibility in parliament, and underlined that healthy civil oversight, openness, and education are crucial for the country’s development even during wartime.
