In 2024, the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) launched 1,050 full audits of declarations, of which 715 were completed. The declarations were selected based on a risk-based approach.
"Based on the results of the audits conducted in 2024, 353 declarations, i.e. 50% of the completed ones, revealed inaccurate information worth UAH 3.8 billion, signs of illicit enrichment worth UAH 192.1 million, and unjustified assets worth more than UAH 47 million. For comparison, in 2021, violations were found in 27% of completed audits (out of 1043 audits, violations were found in 282 declarations). This indicates that the application of a risk-based approach to the selection of declarations for full verification in 2024 has significantly increased the efficiency of work,” said Yulia Kulikova, Head of the NACP Department for Full Verification.
Last year, 228 substantiated conclusions were sent to the competent authorities on the detection of signs of offenses under Articles 368-5, 366-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, and another 85 - on the grounds of an offense under Part 4 of Article 172-6 of the Code of Administrative Offenses. NACP employees drew up and sent 12 administrative reports for false declaration to the court. The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) received 10 materials on the grounds of unjustified assets.
The HACC upheld the claim of the SAPO prosecutor, prepared, among other things, on the basis of a full inspection of the declaration of the Head of the Department of the Main Directorate of the State Migration Service of Ukraine in Odesa Region and recognized the Mercedes-Benz G 400 D, 2023, worth UAH 5.6 million as an unjustified asset, purchased by the declarant's mother and recovered it for the state's revenue. The court decision has not entered into force.
The HACC is currently considering a lawsuit filed by the SAPO prosecutor, also based on the materials of a full audit of the declaration filed by the Verkhnokoropets village head of Zakarpattia region to recognize as an unjustified asset the funds used to purchase a 242 sq. m. house and a 611 sq. m. land plot in Mukachevo by the declarant's wife.
Signs of illicit enrichment and unjustified assets were also found as a result of the audits of the declarations submitted:
- the former Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, found signs of illicit enrichment of more than UAH 9.8 million (acquisition of monetary assets from unconfirmed sources to repay a loan to a bank) and false information of more than UAH 20 million in the declaration for 2023; criminal proceedings were initiated and the relevant materials were sent to the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO);
- the former head of the Internal Security Department of the Main Department of the State Fiscal Service in Kyiv region, established signs of illicit enrichment of more than UAH 20.5 million (acquisition by the declarant of an apartment and two parking spaces registered in the names of his father-in-law and mother-in-law, as well as funds for a significant amount without confirming the legality of their sources of origin), in the declaration for 2021, criminal proceedings were initiated;
- the head of the Ochakiv City Council of Mykolaiv region, established signs of illicit enrichment of more than UAH 9.1 million (acquisition by the declarant and his family member of an apartment in Spain for UAH 5 million, as well as cash in significant amounts in the form of gifts from his mother, who does not have sufficient income from confirmed sources) in the declarations for 2021, 2022, criminal proceedings were initiated;
- the former head of the customs clearance department of the Odesa Customs, signs of unjustified assets worth more than UAH 3.2 million (purchase of vehicles for funds from unidentified sources) in the declaration for 2022, the materials were sent to the SAPO;
- the former head of the Darnytsia District State Administration in Kyiv, signs of unreasonable assets worth more than UAH 5.2 million (acquisition of three vehicles, two non-residential premises, property rights to an object without funds from confirmed sources) in the declaration for 2021, the materials were sent to the SAPO.
Signs of false declaration were found in the declarations:
- MP of Ukraine for more than UAH 3.8 million in the declaration for 2023, criminal proceedings were initiated;
- a Member of Parliament of Ukraine for over UAH 1.9 million in the declaration for 2021 and over UAH 2.7 million in the declaration for 2022, criminal proceedings have been initiated;
- the former Deputy Minister of Social Policy for over UAH 10.9 million in the declaration for 2022, criminal proceedings have been initiated;
- a judge of the Supreme Court for more than UAH 1.8 million in the declaration for 2023, criminal proceedings have been initiated;
- the head of the Kharkiv Regional Council for over UAH 3.4 million in the 2022 declaration, criminal proceedings have been initiated;
- the former head of the Ternopil Regional Council for more than UAH 1.5 million in the declaration for 2022, criminal proceedings have been initiated;
- the former deputy head of the Kyiv Regional State Administration for more than UAH 9.2 million in the declaration for 2022, criminal proceedings have been initiated;
- Deputy Head of the Odesa Regional Council for over UAH 500 thousand in the declaration for 2023. NACP has drawn up a report on administrative violation, which is being considered by the court.
The largest amounts of false information were found in the declarations of
- The former deputy head of the Dnipropetrovs'k Regional State Administration's declaration for 2021 amounted to over UAH 130 million. The NPU has initiated criminal proceedings;
- the Deputy Head of the Regional Service Center of the Main Service Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Odesa, Mykolaiv and Kherson regions for over UAH 100.9 million in the 2021 declaration and over UAH 48.8 million in the 2022 declaration. The SBI opened a criminal investigation;
- the former deputy head of the Zakarpattia Customs Department for over UAH 306.9 million in the 2023 declaration and over UAH 286 million in the 2022 declaration. The SBI initiated criminal proceedings;
- the former head of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi District Council of Odesa Oblast for over UAH 59.6 million in his 2021 declaration. The NPU initiated criminal proceedings;
- a former deputy of the Obukhiv District Council for almost UAH 373 million in his 2022 declaration. The NPU initiated criminal proceedings;
- a deputy of the Kamianets-Podilskyi City Council for over UAH 253 million in his 2021 declaration and over UAH 252 million in his 2022 declaration. The NPU initiated criminal proceedings.
In 2024, based on the materials of full audits, the pre-trial investigation authorities initiated 209 criminal proceedings for false declaration and illicit enrichment.
Based on the results of the pre-trial investigation, 5 indictments were sent to court in criminal proceedings under Art. 366-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine “Declaration of false information”.
The court found the former head of the department of the Zolotonosha District State Administration of Cherkasy region guilty under Part 1 of Art. 366-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and sentenced him to a fine of UAH 51 thousand with disqualification to hold the position of the head of the department for one year. The sentence has entered into force.
Currently, the courts are considering criminal proceedings against:
- the former head of the Dnipropetrovs'k Regional Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support of the Operational Command “East”;
- a former deputy head of the department of the Main Department of the State Tax Service of Ukraine in Volyn region;
- former deputy head of the department of the Main Department of the State Tax Service in Cherkasy region;
- a former employee of the Sviatoshynskyi District State Administration in Kyiv.
The NPU also served a notice of suspicion to a deputy of the Dubovyazivka village council of Konotop district, Sumy region, of committing a criminal offense under Part 1 of Art. 366-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine based on the materials of a full inspection.
In addition, in 2024, the courts brought 7 persons to administrative liability under Part 4 of Article 172-6 of the Code of Administrative Offenses based on full verification of declarations, and found 1 person guilty of committing an offense, but released 1 more person from liability under Article 22 of the Code of Administrative Offenses.
In particular, based on the results of consideration of the protocol drawn up by the NACP, the Head of the Podilskyi Sector - Senior State Inspector for Energy Supervision of the State Energy Supervision Department in Odesa Oblast was found guilty of committing an offense under Part 4 of Article 172-6 of the Code of Administrative Offenses for unreliable declaration of cash in excess of UAH 1.1 million. Based on Art. 22 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, the court discharged him from liability and issued a verbal reprimand.
“In 2025, we plan to increase the number of full inspections by optimizing the processes of their conduct, as well as to increase their efficiency by improving cooperation with pre-trial investigation authorities to achieve the goal of inevitability of punishment for violation of financial control requirements,” said NACP Head Viktor Pavlushchyk.
The list of persons in respect of whom full inspections have been launched, as well as the results of the inspections, can be found here.
What happens to the declaration after it is submitted - read here.
