In June, the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) identified a number of violations in the area of conflict of interest: an official of the service centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine (MIA) received a house as a gift from a third party, employees of the Kyiv City Council illegally transferred land to private ownership, officials of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine embezzled property, etc. Based on these facts, the NACP drew up administrative reports, sent substantiated conclusions to law enforcement agencies and issued orders.
Reports on administrative offences were drawn up and sent to court against:
- the deputy head of one of the regional service centres of the Main Service Centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. The official received a house and land plot in Mykolaiv as a gift from a third party who is neither a relative nor a close person to him, thereby violating the restrictions on receiving gifts provided for in Article 23 of the Law of Ukraine ‘On Prevention of Corruption’ (hereinafter referred to as the Law);
- The head of one of the district councils of the Kyiv region, who, contrary to the requirements of Article 28 of the Law and Article 59-1 of the Law of Ukraine ‘On Local Self-Government in Ukraine’ on the prevention and settlement of conflicts of interest 28 of the Law and Article 59-1 of the Law of Ukraine ‘On Local Self-Government in Ukraine’ on the prevention and settlement of conflicts of interest, voted ‘for’ the establishment of a bonus and premium for himself during the consideration of the issue of expenses for the maintenance of the district council in 2024;
- the head of one of the departments of the Kyiv City Council of the Kyiv City State Administration for refusing to provide documents and information requested by the NACP, which were the subject of an investigation into the existence of a conflict of interest during the conclusion of contracts, the establishment of bonuses, as well as the possible employment of close persons, etc. Thus, the official failed to comply with the lawful requirements of the NACP.
In addition to administrative penalties, the aforementioned officials face being entered into the Unified State Register of persons who have committed corruption or corruption-related offences (Register of Violators).
The NACP made well-founded conclusions about corruption offences and corruption-related offences in relation to:
- officials of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine who, by prior agreement, concluded a contract with suppliers for the purchase of equipment at an inflated price. The losses to the budget amounted to over UAH 24 million. The National Police launched an investigation under Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, ‘Appropriation, embezzlement or acquisition of property through abuse of official position.’
- Officials of the Kyiv City Council and the Kyiv City State Administration who illegally approved documents for the transfer of agricultural land to private ownership, even though such actions are prohibited during martial law. The losses amounted to UAH 650,000. The police launched an investigation under Part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, ‘Abuse of power or official position.’
The NACP also made well-founded conclusions about the detection of signs of a corruption-related offence (for violation of the requirements of the law on the prevention and settlement of conflicts of interest, moonlighting and combining with other types of activities) in relation to:
- the acting head of the State Administration, who hired a close relative and systematically made decisions to promote him;
- the head of the Regional Water Resources Office, who, on behalf of the organisation, concluded a contract with a lawyer to represent the interests of the Regional Office in criminal proceedings conducted by the Economic Security Bureau. Law enforcement officers investigated the actions of the head himself and carried out investigative actions at his place of residence. The official also concluded a contract for the improvement of his own qualifications, which are not related to the performance of his duties, using budget funds:
- the deputy head of the Kyiv Regional Council, who voted in favour of granting himself a bonus and premium during the consideration of the issue of expenses for the maintenance of the regional council in 2024;
- an official of the Department of Cultural Heritage of the executive body of the Kyiv City Council, who, while serving as a civil servant, held the position of head of a private company.
Due to violations of the requirements of the law on the prevention and settlement of conflicts of interest, the NACP issued 13 orders.
Thus, in order to eliminate the identified violations and bring those responsible to justice, orders were issued to the Minister of Health of Ukraine, the head of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Vinnytsia region, the head of the State Regulatory Service of Ukraine, the rectors of several medical universities, for the fact of the existence or untimely transfer of corporate rights or enterprises to the management of subordinate employees.
An order was also issued to the head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration for violation by his subordinate of the prohibition on the use of state property for private interests. The official received a vehicle for official use, but after work he used the car for his own needs. While committing these illegal actions, law enforcement officers drew up a report on him for driving the official car while intoxicated.
In addition, the NACP issued orders to the heads of the State Administration and the Health Department of the Sumy City Council. The heads of the institutions subordinate to them did not report any potential conflicts of interest.
The NACP continues to consistently implement its anti-corruption policy in the area of conflicts of interest in the activities of officials. The results of the Agency's work in this area for the previous months can be found at link.
