Top officials identify key steps to renew anti-corruption framework

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.