IMF urges Ukraine to strengthen fight against corruption to maintain donor support
IMF Communications Department Director Julie Kozack said this on Thursday during a press briefing in Washington, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.
She noted that the Fund had long stated the need for a reliable anti-corruption architecture in Ukraine to level the playing field, safeguard public resources, improve the business climate, and attract private investment. She explained that this was a central element of reform for donors at a time when Ukraine was seeking international backing for its programs.
She emphasized that the anti-corruption framework is indeed extremely important for Ukraine, while a critical priority remains safeguarding the independence and functionality of the country's anti-corruption institutions.
Kozack also noted that recently uncovered evidence of corruption in Ukraine's energy sector underscores the importance of advancing anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine and ensuring that anti-corruption institutions have the capacity, trust, and freedom to carry out their duties.
As reported by Ukrinform, on November 10, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) announced a special operation uncovering corruption in the energy sector. The investigation determined that members of a criminal organization built an extensive scheme of influence over strategic state-owned enterprises, including the National Nuclear Energy Generating Company Energoatom.
On November 11, law enforcement officers detained five individuals in connection with the corruption investigation in the energy sector and served notices of suspicion to seven people — including a businessman who led the criminal organization, a former adviser to the energy minister, the executive director for physical protection and security at Energoatom, and four employees of a back office responsible for money laundering.
