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HOT ANTICORRUPTION NEWS / Issue #203
February 8, 2022
  
Today's issue:
 
- International partners made their nomination to NABU commission;
- MP from Servant of the People has been caught on bribery; 
- Fate of SAPO competition will be decided by disgraced judges;
- KDAC continues to obstruct anti-corruption efforts;
- recommended reading
International partners made their nomination to NABU commission
The term of office of NABU Director Artem Sytnyk expires on April 15, 2022. According to the law adopted in October 2021, the new director shall be selected through a transparent competition, with the decisive vote of international experts in the process. The Selection Commission shall consist of 6 persons, three of whom are directly appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers, and three others are nominated by donor organizations.
The Cabinet of Ministers shall appoint the Commission not later than two months prior to the expiration of the term of the current director (meaning by February 15). So far, the Cabinet of Ministers has not made the appointment. On January 26, it announced that international partners already nominated to the Commission Povilas Malakauskas (former head of State Security Department of Lithuania), Drago Kos (head of GRECO in 2003-2011), and Karen Greenaway (former supervisory special agent of FBI).
MP from Servant of the People has been caught on bribery

On January 28, MP of the Servant of the People party Serhiy Kuzminykh was caught while accepting a $20,000 bribe. Allegedly a bribe was given for helping private companies to get contracts with a state hospital in Zhytomyr region (while  Kuzminykh heads a subcommittee on pharmacy and pharmaceutical activity).  PG Venediktova authorized investigation against the MP on January 31. Currently, the High Anti-corruption Court decides on the preliminary measure for Kuzminykh.
Fate of SAPO competition will be decided by disgraced judges
In December 2021, the scandalous KDAC made a doubtful decision, which cancelled the Rules of Procedure of the Selection Commission selecting the new head of SAPO. The decision did not enter into force as it was appealed. However, all three judges who will review the decision in the appellate instance have questionable reputations and may be prone to outside influence both by the Presidential Office and oligarchs who want to block the process of appointment of an independent head of the SAPO.
KDAC continues to obstruct anti-corruption efforts
Infamous Kyiv District Administrative Court continues to obstruct various anti-corruption efforts through questionable judgements. With one decision, the court allowed another judge not to submit annual electronic asset declaration. With other decision, the court forbade the Cabinet of Ministers to act upon the State Audit Serivice's audit of Enegoatom, which found violations amounting 13 bln UAH.
Recommended Reading 
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Should you have any questions or comments please contact Tetiana Shevchuk at tshevchuk@antac.org.ua

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