IMF expects “critical legislative changes” in Ukraine

Director of the IMF's Communications Department, Julia Kozak, confirmed the Fund's expectations regarding the adoption of important legislative changes in Ukraine in the coming months aimed at reforms and tackling corruption.

She stated this on Thursday during a press briefing in Washington in response to a question from an Ukrinform correspondent.

"The authorities (in Ukraine - ed.) have made a very strong commitment and expressed clear timetables doe advancing critical legislative changes," noted the representative of the Fund.

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In this regard, she clarified that it is, in particular, about restoring the obligation for public officials to declare their assets, which, under the Extended Fund Facility, is expected to be done by the end of July.

In addition, the IMF expects Ukraine to introduce by the end of September legislative changes to strengthen the fight against money laundering, as well as to pass legislation by December to strengthen the institutional autonomy of the Specialized Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office.

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As Ukrinform reported earlier, in late March, the IMF approved the Extended Fund Facility for Ukraine in the amount of $15.6 billion for the next 48 months. The EFF envisages, among other things, the fulfillment by the Ukrainian authorities of their obligations to implement reforms aimed at strengthening governance and their fight against corruption at all levels.