Poroshenko Criticizes Results of Ukrainian Fight against Corruption

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko delivered a warning against "calming" reports on the first stage of anti-corruption actions. He claimed that the results of current efforts to fight corruption were unsatisfactory and that more decisive steps would be required at the start of next year.

"We have to prove that the system, carefully crafted during the entire year of 2015, finally works for Ukraine and is able to bring good results," Poroshenko said during the second meeting of the National Council for Anti-Corruption Policy. "There are alleged actions, alleged progress and allegations that something has already been achieved. To this, I emphatically say “No.” We only created the institutional framework, establishing the conditions for inevitability of punishment. There are no real results yet, despite the fact that every day, at least every week, officials are detained for bribery when they should be placed in prison. So far, I am dissatisfied with the results,” he said.

At the same time, the President expressed gratitude to the Chairman of the Security Service of Ukraine, Vasyl Hrytsak, for the intensive work.

"Now we, with decisive actions, must demonstrate that these are new days in Ukraine.  No official post, no political flag will shelter wrongdoers from just punishment for corrupt acts," Poroshenko said addressing Artem Sytnik and Nazar Kholodnitsky, the heads of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, respectively.

Poroshenko also said that during U.S. Vice President Joe Biden’s visit in Kiev, Washington's assistance in anti-corruption actions was made known.  "The lion's share of $190 million, which has been brought as additional technical assistance, will aid in establishing effective law enforcement and anticorruption agencies," he said.

  Ukraine, Economy of Ukraine

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