In recent developments, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) released a report praising Ukraine’s strides in corruption prevention among its parliamentarians, judges, and prosecutors. The report acknowledges Ukraine’s proactive stance on anti-corruption initiatives, even amidst the adversities posed by Russia’s ongoing invasion. Ukraine has made significant progress by implementing 18 out of the 31 recommendations put forward by GRECO in a 2017 report aimed at fostering transparency and integrity within its legislative, judicial, and executive branches.
Central to these advancements is the adoption of Law No. 3384-IX in 2023, reinstating the mandatory asset declarations for government officials. Additional legislative measures include a law regulating lobbying activities to promote ethical and accountable practices while other reforms strengthen disciplinary measures for judges and enhance the accountability of the prosecution service. However, GRECO underscores that Ukraine must maintain its efforts, as 11 recommendations remain partially implemented and two unaddressed. These unimplemented recommendations focus on systems for the random allocation of cases to individual prosecutors and a clearer definition of disciplinary offences for prosecutors, alongside a broader spectrum of sanctions to ensure effective remediation.
Despite these advancements, Ukraine has not been immune to recent corruption scandals. Notable cases include a deputy minister caught accepting significant bribes in 2023 and a 2024 embezzlement scandal involving former defense ministry officials and fraudulent state contracts.
In its comprehensive review, GRECO reinforces the need for Ukraine to address all 13 remaining recommendations, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to enhancing governance and rooting out systemic corruption. These efforts continue to garner attention, particularly under the challenging circumstances Ukraine faces. More details on the report and Ukraine’s efforts can be found in the full release published by GRECO here.