Ukraine losing momentum in fighting corruption, survey says

The Ukrainian government lost momentum in 2017 in fighting
corruption, rising only one position on the Corruption Perceptions Index last
year compared to two positions in the previous year, according to the latest
results of Transparency International’s annual survey that were published on
Feb. 21. Overall, Ukraine ranked 130 out of 180 countries, the survey said.
“Ukraine’s slow growth in the index, in which its growth dynamics were
effectively reduced by half, is due to such factors as the government’s lack of
political will to engage in a decisive fight against corruption, as well as the
low level of public trust in Ukraine’s courts and prosecutors,” the survey
reported. “Another point that cannot be overlooked is the constant legislative
initiatives submitted by parliament that threaten the newly created
anti-corruption infrastructure.”

At the same time, Ukraine improved its position owing
to the work of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and Specialized
Anti-Corruption Prosecution, the work of the e-declarations register, reforms
in state procurement following the launch of the ProZorro e-procurement system,
and reforms and deregulation of the national gas market, the survey said, which
also cited reduced corruption in police and fewer incidents of bribery.

Several corruption scandals surfaced this week in
Ukraine drawing international attention. The EU has decided to conclude an
unfinished EUR 29 mln project to modernize its six border crossings with
Ukraine, citing delays, errors and overspending, the Reuters news agency
reported on Feb. 20. The EU is expecting the unused money to be returned, the
report said. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s defense industry remains plagued by
corruption, the New York Times reported on Feb. 19, citing examples such as
state purchases of malfunctioning ambulances and price-gouging for aircraft
parts. In the energy sphere, a group of businessmen allegedly connected to the
president has gained control of a lucrative field of natural gas deposits in
the Poltava region, RFE/RL reported on Feb. 20.

Zenon Zawada: These reports only buttress the argument for the creation of the High
Anti-Corruption Court, as being required by the IMF, which is the most
important political issue in Ukraine at the moment. In fact, we argue that the
Court’s creation is more important than next year’s elections since most of the
candidates represent the current system and are unlikely to change it, which
would mean another five years of stagnation.