Ukraine should urgently tackle corruption to retain international assistance – Freedom House

Wednesday, April 13, 2016 - 11:40 (EEST) Section: Latest news

U.S.-based non-governmental organization Freedom House says this year Ukraine must urgently address corruption issues to retain international financial assistance.
Ukraine`s most urgent tasks for 2016 are addressing corruption and adopting related reforms of the judiciary and general prosecutor`s office, Freedom House writes in its report.
It is noted that the resignation in early 2016 of Economy and Trade Minister Aivaras Abromavicius, who stepped down to protest continued malfeasance and self-enrichment among senior officials, could provide a spark for more rapid progress.
”But the president“s office and the prime minister will have to demonstrate the political will to reject old practices if the country is to retain U.S. and European support,” the report reads.
Blueprints for reform of the prosecutor`s office, which includes reducing the number of prosecutors by 40%, have been signed into law but still need to be implemented, as noted in the report.
Judicial reform has been delayed by the need for complex constitutional changes to undergird it. These amendments were submitted to the Constitutional Court at the end of 2015 for approval, the report says.
In addition to their importance for fighting corruption, such reforms are essential for the observance of human rights in the judicial and penal systems, and the proper prosecution of those responsible for violence during the revolution, according to Freedom House.
”Given time and support, Ukraine certainly has the potential to equal or surpass the democratic performance of official EU candidate countries in the near future. Consistent international conditionality for economic and other aid – as seen in the International Monetary Fund`s refusal in early 2016 to provide the next tranche of financial assistance until the government proves that it is serious about uprooting corruption – is the only way to ensure that progress continues,” the report emphasizes.
The organization also reported that Ukraine`s Democracy Score improved from 4.75 (in 2015) to 4.68 (in 2016).