Business news from Ukraine

POROSHENKO INSISTS E-DECLARATION SYSTEM SHOULD START WORKING ON SEPT 1

29 August , 2016  

KYIV. Aug 29 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The electronic declaration system of assets of officials will begin its work in Ukraine on September 1, 2016, Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko said in an interview with CNN, the Ukrayinska Pravda Internet publication said.

According to the publication, when commenting on the recent statements by Transparency International regarding the deterioration of the situation in the fight against corruption, Poroshenko said that the system of combating corruption is being reformed, and, the electronic declaration system, which was previously expected to start its work on August 15, will be launched on September 1.

“We are launching it now … namely on September 1, we will launch an e-declaration system. The topic of discussion with Transparency International was the situation surrounding the fight against corruption. Only five days remain [before the start of the system], and you will see that the project will start its work, and the electronic declaration is an effective tool for fighting corruption. The system of e-declaration will start its work on par with other elements of the anti-corruption system,” the Ukrainian president said.

As reported, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman at a government meeting demanded the system of e-declaration of officials’ assets should be launched on September 1, 2016 and threatened with dismissals for the failure to launch it. “My goal is to launch e-declaration from September 1. I demand this… There is no other date,” he said.

As was earlier reported, officials announced the launch of the e-declaration system at midnight on August 15 despite the fact that its data protection system had not been certified by the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine.

In particular, Transparency International Ukraine was disturbed by the launch of an electronic income declaration system without proper certification, and insists that the officials who are responsible for this should resign.

Under the law on combating corruption, high-ranking officials are to fill in new detailed income declarations in 2016 within 60 days after the launch of the e-declaration system.

In particular, electronic statements of assets and income should be submitted by the Ukrainian president and the prime minister along with their advisors and assistants, government members, deputy ministers, members of the national commissions and the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine, the head of the State Property Fund and the central bank governor along with their deputies. Ukrainian parliamentarians and civil servants belonging to the “A” or “B” categories, as well as judges, prosecutors, investigators, heads, deputy heads of state agencies whose jurisdiction covers the entire territory of Ukraine are also subject to e-declaration. High-ranking military officers are also to declare their incomes with the help of the new system.