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HOT ANTICORRUPTION NEWS / Issue #142
June 7, 2020
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Today's issue:
 
- After three years of fight, SBU leadership started disclosing their declarations;
- Important draft laws facilitating HACC have passed the first reading;
- MP Dubinskyi registered draft law aimed at persecuting civil society as "foreign agents";
- Rada wants to spend COVID-19 fund on the road constructions;

- recommended reading
After three years of fight, SBU leadership started disclosing their declarations

Since the introduction of the system of electronic asset declarations, the officials of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) have been avoiding declaring due to discrepincy in the law. AntAC has been suing SBU to get this declaration published. In autumn 2019, the legislation has been change so SBU leadership has had to declare the assets before June 1, 2020.
 

In July 2019, Ivan Bakanov refused to publish his declaration of 2018 as SBU head although he promised to do so before the nomination. On June 30, Bakanov published his declaration of 2019 under the new legislation. However, several of his deputies did not timely submit their declarations. Also, it has been reported that some of the SBU officials have assets in Crimea and Russia.
New draft law "On Security Service of Ukraine", which has been introduced by the Presidents and currently being considered by the Security Committee, suggests classifying the declarations of SBU's leadership once again. More information about the new SBU draft law in Olena Shcherban's article for Ukrainska Pravda.


 
Important draft laws facilitating HACC have passed the first reading

On June 2, the Parliament adopted the important draft laws which facilitate the work of the High Anti-corruption Court in the first reading. The draft laws No.3348 and No.3350 are aimed at securing the HACC with its own premises and resolve procedural discrepancies on nominating investigative judges. The second reading of the draft laws is expected until the end of the ongoing parliamentary session as it is important to introduce changes to Criminal Procedure Court before September 2020.
 

MP Dubinskyi registered draft law aimed at persecuting civil society as "foreign agents"

Notorious MP Dubinskyi from Servant of the People faction, registered the draft law No. 3564 aimed at distinguishing certain civil society organization as "foreign agents". If it is adopted, it will significantly obstruct the work of NGOs receiving funding from abroad and international organisations as well as be used as a mean to persecute civil society activists.

The law introduces the concept of "NGOs with foreign support" and the obligation to indicate such status in the name of the NGO. All publications and deliverables of such an NGO must contain the appropriate disclaimers and their copies are sent to the Ministry of Justice. Respective register of NGOs with foreign support is being introduced. The management of such NGOs has to pass an annual polygraph interview in order to identify whether or not they have committed treason. Also, the persons of management positions, employees or contractors of those NGOs are forbidden to not enter the civil service or be a member of supervisory boards, governing bodies of state enterprises during 5 years. 
Rada wants to spend COVID-19 fund on the road constructions

The head of the Budget Committee Yuriy Aristov registered the draft law No.3509 suggesting to spend UAH 35 billion from the special budgetary COVID fund for the construction and reconstruction of public roads. The fund amounts approx. UAH 65 billion and has been created back in April to secure  funding healthcare expenses on COVID-19 response and mitigating economic recession. It is worth noting that road construction is one of the most prone to corruption spheres of the economy in Ukraine. Recently, the procurements analysts identified cartel conspiracy in the sector.

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Copyright © *2020* Anti-corruption Action Centre*, All rights reserved.

Should you have any questions or comments please contact Tetiana Shevchuk at tshevchuk@antac.org.ua

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