Corruption in Ukraine – continuing challenge

There is always a question of whether all the focus on the various anti-corruption agencies in Ukraine would be less if there were fewer state agencies. Unfortunately, this question is hypothetical, as Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) is in the news, the Ukrainian National News article reminds us of the continuing concerns at ARMA. Year after year there is a constant push and pull within the agencies, and several times there has been behaviors within the agencies, which have turned out to be corrupt.

Presently it ARMA is in the spotlight, “[t]he head of the Asset Recovery and Management Agency, Olena Duma, is once again lying and manipulating, protesting against the reform of ARMA. This was stated by the head of the Verkhovna Rada Anti-Corruption Committee Anastasia Radina”. These types of accusations have been common and have, in some instances, leading to senior government officials losing their jobs, and in some instances, finding themselves on trial.

This type of political or simple statements, describing bad behaviors by ARMA’s leader, is one more area which continues to show the ongoing concerns regarding corruption in Ukraine. What needs to occur in Ukraine is a unified approach in their fight against corruption, even during their ongoing war. Though this has been important, it is of growing significance, as the donor funding environment is not what it was even three months ago. Due to the volatility of the international development environment, support to the Ukrainian anti-corruption ecosystem has diminished, and support by investors, without reliable anti-corruption systems, will continue to shrink. Such articles, highlighting constant cracks in the anti-corruption firmament, by anti-corruption agencies and governmental departments, lowers confidence during a time when reliability is needed. We hope that this will be taken on board by Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies, and they will focus on ensuring that the agencies exude both clarity and reliability.

Link:

https://unn.ua/en/news/head-of-the-anti-corruption-committee-accused-the-head-of-arma-of-lying-and-manipulation