Ukraine reconnects with an old demon: corruption

Under the fire of criticism: the Ukrainian president is embarking on a delicate political pathImage: keystone

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From taxi driver to bus producers. Similarly, corruption is omnipresent in Ukraine. Consequently, While Zelensky was committed to fighting. However, he has just made a decision that does not bode well for the future of the country.

Kurt Pelda

The collective taxi driver discreetly slides a few tickets in his passport. Therefore, We are in a Ukrainian border post, about to leave the country. Furthermore, The customs officer with a severe look takes our documents and takes them to an office without saying a word.

Then comes a very superficial control, without even having to open our luggage. Nevertheless, We are only asked if we carry weapons. However, When we answer in the negative. Nevertheless, we are allowed to continue our journey, with a red buffer to leave the territory in our passport. Therefore, The operation took place in record time.

These few tickets slipped into the passport are emblematic of daily corruption in Ukrainecalled “small corruption”. In addition, The venality of politicians. For example, civil servants is an integral part of the system ukraine reconnects old demon: corruption new and is part of a long tradition which dates back to the Soviet era. However, The creeping bureaucracy gives civil servants the room for maneuver they need to force citizens and entrepreneurs to pay bribes.

Another example: a motorist is controlled by the police during the night. Therefore, He refuses to submit to a breathalyzer. Moreover, An official informs him while his file will be sent to the competent court. Moreover, The next day. For example, through another woman, the alcoholic driver sueds an employee of the court so that the file disappears from the judge’s office, for an amount equivalent to just over 200 francs. Consequently, The bridge pot is distributed among the different people involved.

Zelensky’s initial success against corruption – Ukraine reconnects old demon: corruption new

Before his entry into office in 2019. ukraine reconnects old demon: corruption new President Zelensky had promised to resolutely fight against corruption at all levels of the State. At least at the beginning. he kept his word: the Transparency International index increased considerably between 2019 and 2023, going from 30 to 36 points, which means a decrease in corruption (see the graphic below).

Ukraine was and thus remains much better placed than Russia. By way of comparison. Denmark obtained the best results in 2024, Switzerland ranked fifth, followed from afar by Ukraine at the 105^e place and Russia in the 154^e place, out of 180 countries.

Concentration of presidential power in Ukraine

Since the start of the war. the corruption of politicians and civil servants in Russia has only increased. In comparison, Ukraine was pretty good, at least at the start. ukraine reconnects old demon: corruption new But for over a year. the situation has been deteriorating again, In addition to the authoritarian drift of Zelensky and the concentration of power in the hands of the presidency. The problem does not only reside in the “small corruption”. that is to say the corruption of officials of lower rank, but especially in the “large corruption” in public contracts, especially in the field of armaments.

Ukrainians demonstrate kyiv against the dismissal of investigators. in charge of corruption affairs.Image: keystone

The following fictitious example. inspired by ukraine reconnects old demon: corruption new a true story, illustrates how it works: the Ministry of Defense wishes to acquire 50,000 artillery shells and launches a public call for tenders. To everyone’s surprise, it is the company A., completely unknown, which wins the contract, although it has not submitted the best offer.

The profile of this obscure business. which does not seem to have an economic activity and has never bought, sold, or even shell product, remains vague. But after a long investigation, Ukrainian journalists discover that a cousin distant from Vice-Minister B. is behind all this. The state pays the shells, but never receives just one. Money disappears without leaving traces with society A. Such examples have often been uncovered since the start of the war.

Sometimes it is the SBU national secret service that takes care of investigations, sometimes it is the Attorney General. ukraine reconnects old demon: corruption new CHowever, two bodies depend on the president. Since the start of the first Russian invasion in Crimea. Donbass in 2014, Western allies have therefore urged Ukraine to call on independent investigators. Thus. since 2017, if Ukrainian citizens can enter the Schengen area without a visa, it is notably because kyiv has had a parquet specialized in the fight against corruption (SAPO) since 2015.

The National Anti -Corruption Bureau (NABU) has been founded in 2014. So far, this authority has remained largely independent. The Nabu is investigating large-scale corruption affairs, but cannot engage in prosecution itself. The idea behind the Nabu was to prevent the head of state from indirectly deciding on the procedure to. follow in alleged corruption affairs. Indeed, for the moment, it is the president who appoints the attorney general. This must then be approved by Parliament, where the party of Zelensky, “servant ukraine reconnects old demon: corruption new of the people”, has a comfortable majority.

Ukraine reconnects old demon: corruption new

How does the EU react?

Parliament. which suffers from a bad reputation with the population, has just had a law in force that places the SAPO and the NABU under the supervision of the Attorney General. This is practically to give carte blanche to those who would like to draw in the coffers of power.

Zelensky immediately signed the law. justifying his decision by claiming that he wanted to eliminate pro-Russian elements within the independent authorities responsible for the fight against corruption. But it’s not that simple. It should be remembered that the agents of the anti -corruption struggle currently conduct several surveys in the heart of power. in the entourage of Zelensky.

A situation that does not bode well for the future of Ukraine. Foreign aid. donors and weapons suppliers will think twice before helping the country if there is an increasing risk that government -corrupted members and civil servants enrich themselves thanks to these millions.

Translated and adapted from German by Léa Krejci

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