Sytnyk v. Ukraine – vindication for Mr. Sytnyk

On 24 April a judgment was made by the European Court of Human Rights the case of Sytnyk v. Artem,  a case which had been brought against Mr. Artem Sytnyk, regarding improper gifts. What is significant is how this highlights how corruption also works in attempting to destroy the reputations of non-corrupt officials. The press release highlighted that “the focus in the case had not been to prevent corruption in the public service, but had been more of a personal attack on his integrity.” As Mr. Sytnyk had been the head of the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine from 2015-2022, chosen by a mixed panel of national and international advisors, and presently he is working at the NACP, the attack on his integrity was political, aimed to undercut his work within the institutions.

What this judgment brings to light is that from 2019 going forward, there were, and no doubt still are, significant attacks against anti-corruption governmental officials. These attacks are intended to portray officials as corrupt, with the implication that the institutions themselves are corrupt, discounting both the institutions and the individuals. These practices continue to be common, and with the judgment by the ECHR this shows quite clearly that the Ukrainian government, in 2019 and possibly to date, still have a way to go to endorse anti-corruption. But so far this has not deterred honest practitioners, and such decisions should also give them hope that honest courts will bring to light governmental bad actors.

Link:

https://www.echr.coe.int/w/judgment-concerning-ukraine-3