Statement on the Liquidation of the Independence of Anti-Corruption Institutions

11 years ago, the Revolution of Dignity put an end to the uncertainty and “multi-vector” nature of Ukrainian politics and confirmed the European choice of the Ukrainian people. That same year, the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU was signed and ratified. In the following years, the Free Trade Area and visa-free regime came into effect, the course toward EU membership was enshrined in the Constitution of Ukraine, and, ultimately, Ukraine applied for membership, received candidate status, and began negotiations. Today, the European Union and its members are reliable partners of Ukraine in strengthening defense and financing the state budget of Ukraine.

At all these stages, independent anti-corruption institutions were and remain one of the key conditions for Ukraine’s European integration. This was a direct requirement of the Association Agreement, one of the main conditions for the visa-free regime, and one of the seven key conditions to be fulfilled for the start of accession negotiations, among others. Independent and effective anti-corruption institutions are not a technical detail but a systemic requirement for Ukraine’s European integration. They are one of the main criteria for assessing Ukraine’s progress toward EU membership and an important marker of trust from European partners, a symbol of political and value compatibility.

Draft Law No. 12414, adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, destroys the independence of anti-corruption bodies, turning them into subdivisions of an unreformed and politically dependent prosecutor’s office, and significantly limits the effectiveness of these bodies by depriving them of the ability to maintain confidentiality of investigations.

In essence, this means destroying one of the most important factors that keeps the door open for Ukraine to the European Union, ensures trust and support from European partners — vital in times of war — and fuels the Ukrainian dream of a better future that gives people strength both at the front and at home.

Among other things, this creates grounds for rolling back the existing achievements of European integration and dramatically increases financial risks for the country.

We, representatives of Ukrainian civil society, were among those who, during the Revolution of Dignity, won Ukraine’s European perspective. Knowing the position of European partners, we regard the current developments as a disruption of the course toward European integration — a course paid for not only by the hundred lives of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred but also by the many thousands of lives of ATO heroes and, later, Ukraine’s Defense Forces in the course of the full-scale war.

Together with the breakdown of the reboot of the Bureau of Economic Security and the High Qualification Commission of Judges, the use of politically motivated selective justice against civic activists, servicemen, journalists, and others, this creates a sense of returning to 2013, when Ukraine’s geopolitical and civilizational choice had not yet been made.

Only now the circumstances are entirely different. The fourth year of full-scale war requires maximum unity and concentration of efforts by the state, society, and our European partners. In the conditions of economic decline, catastrophic lack of financial resources, fragile external political support, and even more fragile social cohesion inside the country — this creates extraordinary risks for Ukrainian statehood.

We call on the President of Ukraine to take a statesmanlike position: weigh the risks and veto the adopted draft Law, thereby confirming to Ukrainian society and European partners Ukraine’s commitment to its European choice.

P.S. This statement was drafted and signed by many before the Law came into force yesterday evening. Therefore, the demand of this statement must now read as follows:
We call on the President of Ukraine and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to take a statesmanlike position: weigh the risks and take the necessary actions to repeal the Law, thereby confirming to Ukrainian society and European partners Ukraine’s commitment to its European choice.

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Signatories:

Business Communities:
CEO Club Ukraine
Business Community Board
NGO “Business Association ‘We-Khersonians’”
NGO “Association of Private Employers”
Drupal Ukraine Community
NGO “National Organization of Retail Trade”
NGO “Entrepreneurs’ Club of Bukovyna”
NGO “Alumni Association of Kyiv-Mohyla Business School”

Civil Society Organizations:
Civic Platform “New Country”
Charitable Foundation “From the Country to Ukraine”
Bilozersky Center for Regional Development
NGO BCD
NGO “Social Capital”
NGO “Ukrainian World”
NGO “Boyko Ethnological Society”
NGO “STAN”
NGO “Learn”
Ukrainian Foundation for Legal Aid
NGO “Horizon of Changes”
NGO “Country of Free Community”
Center for Civil Liberties
NGL.media
NGO “Ukrainian Association of Students”
NGO Crisis Media Center Siversky Donets
NGO “Higher”
Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (NAKO)
NGO “Red Guber”
NGO “Agency for Urban Initiatives”
NGO “Agency for Sustainable Development and Innovation”
NGO “Rivne Center ‘Social Partnership’” (GI “For Honest Tender”)
Charitable Foundation “Library Country”
NGO “Zero Waste Lutsk”
NGO “International Institute for Integral Development”
NGO “Coalition of Culture Actors”
NGO “Anti-Corruption Headquarters”
NGO “Foundation for Institutional Development”
NGO “Ukrainian Pirate Community”
NGO “Toloka Association”
NGO “Center Dobrochin”
NGO “Women’s Anti-Corruption Movement”
NGO “Chernihiv Center for Human Rights”
NGO “Ukrainian Fishermen’s Club”
NGO “Center for Journalistic Investigations ‘Power of Truth’”

Analytical Centers:
Center for Economic Strategy
Institute for Analytics and Advocacy
Office of the Chief Economist of the Coalition of Business Communities for the Modernization of Ukraine
Analytical Center Advanter Group
Institute for Economic Leadership
NGO “Technologies of Progress”
Network for the Protection of National Interests “ANTS”
Institute for Socio-Economic Transformation
NGO Center for Social and Economic Research — CASE Ukraine
Future Development Agency
NGO Analytical and Consulting Center for Public Governance and Law
NGO “Center for Public Expertise”
NGO “Center for Reform and Local Development”
Interdisciplinary Scientific and Educational Center for Anti-Corruption (ACREC)
NGO “Youth Democratic Association ‘YODA’”
Poltava Branch of the Public Service of Ukraine

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