Ukraine has bolstered its anti-corruption strategies with the introduction of whistleblower rewards and a new reporting guide, according to the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP). This guide facilitates whistleblowers in reporting misconduct, setting a clear procedural path for exposing corruption.
The move follows the culmination of Ukraine’s first two whistleblower award cases. Despite being finalized in 2023, payouts were issued recently, marking a significant development under Ukraine’s whistleblower award law. This legislation, established in 2019, incentivizes the reporting of corruption by offering whistleblowers up to 10% of the recovered funds, with rewards capped at $500,000.
The NACP hailed its inaugural whistleblower award as a pivotal step in fostering a culture of transparency in Ukraine, encouraging public participation in anti-corruption efforts. The agency emphasized that disclosure remains one of the most effective means of combating corruption.
The first reward payment, issued on October 4, went to a whistleblower within the military who reported an attempted bribe of UAH 24 million during his tenure as director of internal audit for the Ministry of Defense. The offer was linked to the manipulation of audit processes concerning a state contract.
The second payout, executed on October 18, was linked to a substantial bribery case involving attempts to influence high-ranking officials in Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies. Here, a $6 million bribe was offered to influence proceedings against a former Minister of Ecology, underscoring the stakes involved in Ukraine’s corruption battles.