The more actively we are involved in the anti-corruption struggle, the more hope we have each year for better results from Transparency Internationa’s Corruption Perceptions Index.
And this year, unfortunately, we faced disappointment.
The Corruption Perceptions Index 2016, released on Jan. 25, shows that Ukraine remains in the list of most corrupt countries of the world. It scored 29 points out of 100 possible, which is an improvement of two points compared to last year.
Personally, as a representative of the global anti-corruption organization Transparency International Ukraine, two extra points is not enough.
ProZorro, a transparent public procurement system, has been introduced and vital anti-corruption institutions have been established.
But looking at it from the point of view of victims — average traders who see assets declared by multimillionaire members of parliament, soldiers who don’t get what they need at the war front because of corruption, families who lost loved ones to drunk drivers who were set free by corrupt courts — and we can understand that little has been done.
Crimes of ex-President Viktor Yanukovych’s regime have yet to be investigated, the issue on recovery of the stolen assets is diverted and some politicians – associates of the former president — are relieved of sanctions.
Impunity at the top prevents us realizing progress made by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office. Justice remains inefficient and cases against corrupt officials are not brought to a logical end.
Thanks to the ProZorro public procurement system and DoZorro procurement monitoring system, as well as the e-declaration system, we have seen big corruption in public spending that was previously hidden.
We can list all anti-corruption bodies and initiatives launched during this last year.
But the Corruption Perceptions Index is based not on official statistics, but on perceptions by a wide circle of experts.
To stop stagnation in the anti-corruption struggle, Тransparency International Ukraine insists on implementation of five steps that can reduce corruption.
First, we shall establish an efficient system of anti-corruption justice with engagement of foreign specialists as unbiased observers and partners. It will promote fair punishment of high-ranking corrupt officials.
Second, the state must do it best to recover its assets stolen by Yanukovych and punish criminals of the former power.
Third, it is necessary to involve business, both Ukrainian and international, into setting new transparent rules of interaction in the triangle “society – authorities – business,” using methods of deregulation, forecasting tax legislation, establishment of rule of law, ensuring condition for conducting business, and a change of attitude towards Ukraine.
Fourth, we shall conduct audits and reduce the level of secrecy in the security and defense sector in the following directions: article of the state budget, annual plans of public procurement, information on conducting procurement and concluding contacts.
Finally, we shall establish a system of communication on anti-corruption reform with society and international partners based on real facts and achievements, not promises. We shall follow our international obligations strictly.
To accomplish these five steps we have to do more than during the last decade. New institutions and new laws have changed the rules of the game somewhat, but not enough.
So Ukraine moved up only two points.
But I am still motivated to do more in 2017. We must work if we want to reduce corruption and make Ukraine a positive example for others.
The main task is to reduce corruption according to the most basic and reliable index – the inner sense of Ukrainians! Let’s work!
Yaroslav Yurchyshyn is executive director of Тransparency International Ukraine.
