The recruitment for the head of Ukraine's new National Anti-Corruption Bureau officially opened today, after the vacancy notice was published on presidential website late last night.
Foreigners under 65 with a law degree and at least 10 years of professional experience are eligible to apply, along with Ukrainian citizens. However, in a last minute change to the vacancy text, they now have to obtain Ukrainian citizenship by Feb.12, the deadline for application, according to the vacancy notice.
Giovanni Kessler, director general of the European Anti-Fraud Office and a member of the commission on appointment of anti-corruption bureau chief, welcomed the announcement.
“I think that final version of the announcement is very good, as long as it says that all applicants must have Ukrainian citizenship,” Kessler told the Kyiv Post. “We don’t mind if they have it for 10 years or 10 days, they just have to be Ukrainian citizens. That’s exactly what I asked for in the discussion and I’m glad that majority of the commission took this decision.”
Yegor Sobolev, head of the parliamentary anti-corruption committee, is also optimistic about the fact that foreigners can apply. “If this includes people who have shown themselves as serious fighters against corruption and skilled organisers, then we will only benefit from this,” Sobolev said.
The parliament now needs to pass the necessary amendments to the law on anti-corruption bureau before the application deadline, he said. This includes setting high salaries for the head of the bureau – from Hr 40,000 to Hr 60,000 per month ($2,500 – $3,750) and investigators – from Hr 20,000 ($1,250). Sobolev also said that the commission to appoint the anti-corruption chief should select only one candidate, instead of the three suggested in the current version of the law, in order to “remove any political influence on appointment.”
The requirements for the anti-corruption chief listed on presidential website are:
– A citizen of Ukraine under 65 years (foreigners and stateless people who have applied must obtain citizenship of Ukraine before the deadline for the competition);
– Have completed higher legal education (a law degree completed abroad can be considered);
– Have at least 10 years of professional experience;
– Have at least five years of experience in senior positions in government institutions or international organizations (experience may include work in government and non-government organizations and institutions both in Ukraine and in foreign countries);
– Speak the Ukrainian language.
Candidates will be excluded if they match any of the following criteria:
– In the past two years have held leadership positions within political parties or were employed by a political party;
– Were adjudicated incompetent or having limited capacity;
– Were convicted of a crime, faced administrative penalties for corruption offences in the past year or were prosecuted by court for intentional crime;
– Were deprived by law of the right to engage in state activities or hold certain positions;
– Hold citizenship of a different state (foreigners must obtain citizenship of Ukraine before the end of the deadline for the competition);
– Are 65 years old or above;
– Are subordinate to a relative.
The candidates will also have to submit declarations on assets, property and financial liabilities and undergo an audit and background check, according to the vacancy notice.
The law on the anti-corruption bureau comes into force on Jan. 25. President Petro Poroshenko has said he would like to see the bureau in action by Aug. 24, Ukraine’s Independence Day.
Kyiv Post staff writer Anastasia Forina can be reached at [email protected]
