The Revolution of Dignity took lives of the Heavenly Hundred but gave Ukraine a chance to put a qualitatively new content in fighting corruption that permeated all aspects of our daily life. Corruption is a parasite phenomenon of our society that became the cornerstone of two revolutions in Ukraine.
Efforts of authorities to create anti-corruption bodies (NABU, NACP, an initiative on the establishment of anti-corruption courts) led to no significant changes in this field. Demonstrative detentions of the current government officials and bureaucrats of Yanukovych times were more like Hollywood shows. All detainees were released with no efforts and courts have not adopted any specific sentences yet.
The NGOs now play an important role in the fight against corruption. Their work, in our opinion, is more effective than of the government agencies listed above. This situation does not satisfy corrupt officials and their “roof” in power. Take for example, the NGO “Center for Combating Corruption” has undergone to persecution. The power is now trying to abolish a non-profit status of the organization, block its work, and then to call its leader, Vitaliy Shabunin to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. All this is done solely for one purpose – to remove from sight those who, in fact, not in word, bring to light real corrupt officials.
Against this background, it is worth mentioning the initiative of the authorities to set an obligation to fill e-declarations for public organizations involved in anti-corruption activities, founders and directors of the media – all those who not only declare the fight against corruption, but makes steps in this direction that is inconvenient for power.
The European Party of Ukraine urges signatories of the anti-corruption declaration of April 10, 2017 and everyone who consider themselves an opposition to the current government, not to stay indifferent in the issue of fighting corruption. When we celebrate the long-awaited visa-free regime with the EU, these challenges can not be put in the background.
Leader of the European Party of Ukraine Mykola Katerynchuk