National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine

National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Національне Антикорупційне Бюрo)
Agency overview
Formed 14 October 2014 [1]
Superseding agency
  • National Anti-Corruption Committee
Jurisdiction  Ukraine government
Headquarters 3, Surykov St., Kiev [2]
Employees Approximately 700 [3][4]
Agency executive
  • Artem Sytnyk[3], Chairman
Parent agency Verkhovna Rada (parliament)
Website Official website
Bureau Headquarters in Kiev
Ukraine
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Ukraine
Regional departments

National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Національне Антикорупційне Бюро України, НАБУ) or NABU is a Ukrainian law enforcement anti-corruption agency which investigates corruption in Ukraine and prepares cases for prosecution.[5] It has investigatory powers but cannot indict suspects.[6] Only agency findings passed to the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office become a part of criminal case.[6]

The agency was established in 2014 after its predecessor, the National Anti-Corruption Committee (Ukrainian: Національний антикорупційний комітет) was considered a failure.[7] The bureau was created on the request of the International Monetary Fund.

The agency is set to employ 700 people.[3] Its first 70 detectives started work on 1 October 2015.[8]

The agency's government funding is mandated under American and European Union aid programs.[6] It has an evidence-sharing agreement with the F.B.I..[6]

The Ukrainian government also employs the National Agency for Prevention of Corruption which works to prevent corruption by monitoring government officials' lifestyles.[9]

History

National Anti-Corruption Committee

The position of Commissioner for anti-corruption policy was established by the second Tymoshenko Government on 24 April 2009.[10] Its first meeting took place on 22 April 2010; at the time most of its members were government officials.[11] In September 2011 then President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych became head of the National Anti-Corruption Committee, while the Justice Minister served as the secretary of the committee.[12][13] At that time the committee was tasked to give systematic analysis and to develop measures to combat corruption.[13]

Commissioner for anti-corruption policy

6 March 2014 Tetiana Chornovol become the Commissioner for anti-corruption policy.[14] At the time the organization was set to employ 1,200 people in seven regional offices.[5] Chornovol resigned on 18 August 2014 because "there is no political will in Ukraine to carry out a hard-edged, large-scale war against corruption".[15]

Anti-Corruption Bureau

Founding and launching the National Anti-Corruption Bureau was one of the requirements set by the IMF and the European Commission for relaxation of visa restrictions between Ukraine and the European Union.

On 14 October 2014 Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law "On the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine".

In January 2015 for the first time in history of modern Ukraine an open competition for position of director of a state agency was announced. 186 candidates applied for the position of Director of the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine. The winner of the competition was Artem Sytnyk.

On 16 April 2015 the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko signed two decrees: № 217/2015 – decree on founding the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine and №218/2015 — decree on appointing Artem Sytnyk the Bureau's Director. This provided a starting point for a new state agency. The first order signed by the NABU Director on 23 April 2015 approved the Bureau's structure and stuffing. On 24 April Gizo Uglava was appointed First Deputy Director. Later two more Deputy Directors were appointed: Anatoly Novak and Tetyana Varvarska.

On 7 May the Bureau was given premises At 3 Vasylya Surykova street, Kiev.

On 30 November 2015 the competition for the position of the Head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, on which the start of the NABU work depended, was over. Nazar Kholodnitskiy took the position. On 4 December the NABU detectives entered the first three criminal proceedings concerning the theft of state owned companies' funds to the value of 1 billion UAH into the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations.

The agency's detectives underwent training sponsored by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and the European Union.[8]

From June 2017 the NABU Director is a member of the EUACI's Steering Committee. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau is one of the beneficiarys this program.[16]

Relationship with other anti-corruption bodies

NABU is one of three anti-corruption pillar institutions in Ukraine, created after the Euromaidan revolution.

National Agency for Prevention of Corruption

The National Agency for Prevention of Corruption seeks to 'shapes and implements anti-corruption policy while creating an environment conducive to corruption prevention'.[17] While NABU focuses on law-enforcement, the NACP shapes policy and develops regulations that help prevent corruption and ensures compliance.

It is responsible for verifying the accuracy of government officials' asset and income declarations.[9] In July 2016, its civil society representative, Rouslan Riaboshapka, criticised the hiring process, saying that the agency was choosing the lowest-scoring candidates.[18]

Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office

The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) supports and oversees criminal investigations launched by NABU, by drawing up indictments and bringing them before the courts.

Control over the bureau

The direct control over the bureau is conducted by the parliamentary committee on issues of fighting organized crime and corruption.

The NABU director

  • informs the President, Verkhovna Rada, and the Cabinet about key issues in operation of the NABU and its regional centers, about execution of assigned tasks, compliance with the law, rights and freedoms of individuals;
  • every year in February and August submits a written report to the President, Verkhovna Rada, and the Cabinet about operations of the NABU during the previous six months.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Official website of the agency. Contact Us". 2017.
  2. ↑ "Official website of the agency. About NABU. History". 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 Nation's first Anti-Corruption Bureau chief starts his work, Kyiv Post (15 May 2015)
  4. ↑ https://www.kyivpost.com/opinion/editorial/decent-salaries-386394.html
  5. 1 2 Chornovol: A lot of work ahead for Ukraine's corruption fighters, Kyiv Post (5 May 2014)
  6. 1 2 3 4 Secret Ledger in Ukraine Lists Cash for Donald Trump’s Campaign Chief, The New York Times (15 August 2016)
  7. ↑ Ukraine to set up anti-corruption bureau, Global Times (6 June 2014)
  8. 1 2 Reform Watch - Oct. 1, 2015, Kyiv Post (Oct. 2, 2015)
  9. 1 2 Parliament adopts Yatsenyuk’s ambitious reform program for 2015, Kyiv Post (Dec. 11, 2014)
  10. ↑ (in Ukrainian) Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine decree, Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (24 April 2009)
  11. ↑ Yanukovych confirms membership of anti-corruption committee, Kyiv Post (30 March 2010)
  12. ↑ Yanukovych vows to put an end to corruption, Kyiv Post (September 15, 2011)
  13. 1 2 Yanukovych approves instruction on National Anti-Corruption Committee, Kyiv Post (September 1, 2011)
  14. ↑ (in Ukrainian) Chornovol appointed commissioner of anti-corruption policy, Espreso TV (6 March 2014)
  15. ↑ Yarema, top prosecutor since June, accused of stalling criminal cases, Kyiv Post (Oct. 14, 2014)
    Governmental commissioner for combating corruption Chornovol resigns". Kyiv Post. 18 August 2014.
  16. ↑ "Support of international partners is very important for the NABU — Artem Sytnyk". National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine. 23 June 2017. Retrieved 2018-05-13.
  17. ↑ http://www.ua.undp.org/content/dam/ukraine/docs/nazk_eng.pdf
  18. ↑ Sukhov, Oleg (8 July 2016). "Oleg Sukhov: Reformer and anti-reformer of the week July 7". Kyiv Post.
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