BURNING ANTICORRUPTION NEWS / Issue #35
December 29, 2017

Ukraine's 2017 was full of anticorruption achievements, indeed. It’s the first time that dozens Ukrainian high profile officials were charged with corruption offenses on a non-political basis. 

Effective operation of previous anticorruption accomplishments was protected: the National Anticorruption Bureau that currently investigates more than 450 cases of high profile corruption that caused the losses of 3 billion USD; open registries and the procurement system; the electronic asset declarations system where more than 1 million public officials disclosed their assets; international medicines procurements, that helped to save up to 38% of procurements budget as confirmed by the State Accounting Chamber etc.

In addition, Ukraine finally managed to start a long-awaited healthcare reform, and due to coordinated work of donors and Venice Commission's opinion the President held with establishment of the separate anticorruption court. The Asset Recovery Agency started operations and received first assets for management. 

Visa-free regime came in force flagging a new stage of the EU-Ukraine relations and allowing thousands of Ukrainians to visit the EU with biometric passports only. 

We wanted to use this opportunity to thank you once again for synergetic efforts in driving with us the Ukrainian reforms to the point of no-return. We look forward to working together in 2018 on establishment of the real and independent anticorruption court and ensuring that corrupt officials are brought to justice. Stronger together!

With the warmest regards,
AntAC team

Coming back to more routine news, this issue covers:

- threats for anticorruption reform in early 2018;
- anticorruption CSOs urging the President to withdraw his draft law on anticorruption court and submit a new one, with Venice Commission recommendations on board;
- one more dubious judge is recommended for appointment to the Supreme Court.
 

Threats for Anticorruption Reform in Early 2018

Please, kindly bear in mind possible threats for the anticorruption reform which may re-appear early 2018:

- pushing forward with the criminal cases against NABU management (more details);

- appointment of a loyal auditor for NABU;
- adoption of the draft law No7362 which would facilitate prompt and easy dismissal of NABU director (more details);
- failure to cancel e-declarations for anticorruption activists;
- prompt adoption of President's draft law No7440 on anticorruption court (the details are explained below). 

Starting from January 9 we will get back to keeping you updated with most recent news of Ukraine's fight against corruption. 

Anticorruption Court Updates

Though the President's draft law No7440 on anticorruption court was submitted to the Parliament on December 22, the text was published only on December 26.

The draft law neglects Venice Commission's recommendations. In case you missed it, our analysis explains in details its threats. 

Anticorruption civil society organisations urge the President to withdraw promptly this draft law and submit a new one that takes into account Venice Commission's recommendations. This is still possible before the draft law is included in Rada's agenda. Full text of the statement. 

New Appointment to the Supreme Court

(picture from Yevheniia Motorevska's Facebook page)

One more dubious judge was recommended for the appointment to the Supreme Court - Valentyna Simonenko. 

She received a negative opinion from the Public Integrity Council. In her declaration for 2015 judge Simonenko failed to declare a number of legal entities, in which her then husband owed corporate rights. Acting as a head of the Council of Judges of Ukraine she ignored the appeals of activists to facilitate prompt bringing to justice the judges who persecuted the protesters during the Revolution of Dignity. In addition, she publicly discredited e-declaration system and tried to link the robbery of a judge Danylova's house with disclosed information (though neither this house, nor this money were ever mentioned in the e-declaration). PIC opinion (in Ukrainian). 

To end up with, above is her motivational letter for the post of the Supreme Court judge with the grammar mistakes underlined.