Top officials identify key steps to renew anti-corruption framework

30 November 2020

A meeting of the National Council of Anti-Corruption Policy on Nov. 27 involving top state officials was held in order to find the quickest way to resolve the constitutional crisis caused by the Oct. 27 court ruling, the president’s website said. They agreed upon three major steps, as reported by President’s Office Head Andriy Yermak on his Facebook page. They are (1) renewing criminal responsibility for deliberately filing fraudulent electronic declarations, (2) renewing the authority of the National Agency for Corruption Prevention to review electronic declarations and oversee the declarations of judges, and (3) overseeing the issues of forming the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), including guaranteeing the activity of its current director, Artem Sytnyk.

 

“This crisis has led to very serious consequences. It has cost us significant efforts in not losing the support of our international partners – the IMF, World Bank and other investors, in particular – following this ruling. Those who lied on the 2017, 2018, and 2019 declarations will avoid punishment. Work with corruption prevention currently remains on pause,” Zelensky said, as reported by his website.

 

Earlier that day, PM Denys Shmyhal registered a bill in parliament that would guarantee the ongoing work of NABU director Artem Sytnyk, as had been requested by the IMF. The president also submitted a bill to renew criminal responsibility for filing fraudulent e-declarations.

 

The bill to keep Sytnyk as NABU director drew criticism from Oleh Tatarov, a deputy head in the president’s office. Sytnyk “doesn’t have the moral right to lead an anti-corruption body and should leave,” Tatarov told the zib.com.ua news site on Nov. 28. A new selection should be held based on “exclusively Ukrainian interests,” he said, adding that the NABU “is not a Ukrainian story, which, unfortunately, is beyond the bounds of our country.” Tatarov’s statements about the NABU only reflect his personal view and do not reflect official positsion of President Zelensky, his press service rushed to report on Nov. 29.

 

Zenon Zawada: The government is on the right track to renewing the nation’s anti-corruption infrastructure, as has been demanded by key Western institutions. The comments offered by Tatarov confirm there is an active, powerful lobby in Ukraine opposing anti-corruption efforts, and by extension, Ukraine’s Western integration. This lobby is being spearheaded by pro-Russian forces. Tatarov’s comments merely confirm the widely held notion that he is advancing pro-Russian interests within the President’s Office.