Ukraine Anti-Corruption Bureau should focus on past leaders, president says
5 January 2015
The main task of the newly created Anti-Corruption Bureau will be investigating and returning the property stolen by the regime of former President Viktor Yanukovych, said on Jan. 3 Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. The bureau should also create a special group to monitor grants, loans and money for programs earmarked by the EU, Poroshenko told Giovanni Kessler, the director-general of the European Anti-Fraud Office. The Bureau should begin its work by Jan. 24, he said.
Zenon Zawada: There is a disturbing trend of top government officials shifting the blame for their troubles on the Donbas war and the Yanukovych administration. Contrary to the president, we believe the main task of the Anti-Corruption Bureau is to investigate corruption currently occurring at the top levels of government. For its effective work, it should not fall under the purview of the National Security and Defense Council, as was recently decided by parliament.
Poroshenko’s performance as president – including his actions and statements during the last six months– thus far leads us to believe he’s not committed to combatting corruption. Unfortunately, that only increases the threats to Ukrainian statehood in 2015.
