07
December 2017
Past Event
The Oligarchs Strike Back? The Challenge of Anti-Corruption Reform in Ukraine

The Oligarchs Strike Back? The Challenge of Anti-Corruption Reform in Ukraine

Past Event
Hudson Institute, Washington, D.C. Headquarters
December 07, 2017
Ukrainian opposition protests outside the parliament building in Kiev calling for anti-corruption reforms, October 17, 2017 (SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images)
Caption
Ukrainian opposition protests outside the parliament building in Kiev calling for anti-corruption reforms, October 17, 2017 (SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images)
07
December 2017
Past Event

1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 400
Washington, DC 20004

Speakers:
Natalie Sedletska

Investigative Journalist, RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service

Emmanuel Mathias

Deputy Unit Chief, Financial Integrity Group, Legal Department, International Monetary Fund

Joanna Rohozinska

Senior Program Officer, Northern Europe, National Endowment for Democracy

Four years after Ukraine’s Revolution of Dignity began, Ukraine continues to work on an ambitious reform agenda tackling corruption and stimulating the economy. Thanks to public pressure, civic engagement, and encouragement from international financial organizations, the government has introduced an open procurement process, created oversight and enforcement bodies throughout government, and required public officials to declare their wealth and assets. However, progress has slowed as anti-corruption agencies including the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) have come under attack from parties within the government as well as the oligarchic interests that remain entrenched in the country. Ukraine’s independent journalists have been at the frontline of the fight, exposing corruption among the Ukrainian security services, government, and oligarchs. But they too have been subjected to increasing attacks from hired thugs and even the security services themselves.

On Thursday, December 7, Hudson Institute hosted a panel discussion with Natalie Sedletska, Emmanuel Mathias, and Joanna Rohozinska on the ongoing challenges of anti-corruption reform in Ukraine. Ms. Sedletska is an investigative journalist and former Vaclav Havel Journalism Fellow with RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service, and the host of the Service’s award-winning weekly television program “Schemes: Corruption in Details” – a joint production with Ukraine's First National TV channel in the Ukrainian language. Dr. Mathias is a deputy of the Financial Integrity Group of the IMF’s Legal Department. Ms. Rohozinska is the senior program officer responsible for Northern Europe at the National Endowment for Democracy. Hudson Research Fellow Hannah Thoburn moderated the discussion.

Related Events
23
October 2025
In-Person Event | Invite Only
The US in the South Caucasus: Mapping New Strategic Opportunities 
Featured Speakers:
Ilan Berman
Luke Coffey
Steve Daines
Michael Doran
Ambassador Khazar Ibrahim
Efgan Nifti
Joel Scanlon
: President Donald Trump, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sign a joint declaration at the White House in Washington DC, on August 8, 2025. (Getty Images)
23
October 2025
In-Person Event | Invite Only
The US in the South Caucasus: Mapping New Strategic Opportunities 

A keynote address by Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), to examine the implications of the recent Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement. 

: President Donald Trump, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sign a joint declaration at the White House in Washington DC, on August 8, 2025. (Getty Images)
Featured Speakers:
Ilan Berman
Luke Coffey
Steve Daines
Michael Doran
Ambassador Khazar Ibrahim
Efgan Nifti
Joel Scanlon
24
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Prioritizing the Release of Chinese Christian Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri
Featured Speakers:
Grace Jin Drexel
Bill Drexel
Olivia Enos
Getty Images
24
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Prioritizing the Release of Chinese Christian Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri

Join Hudson for a conversation with Pastor Jin’s daughter and son-in-law about Pastor Jin, why he and the other detained Zion Church members matter for US foreign policy, and what the US government can do to secure the church members’ release.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Grace Jin Drexel
Bill Drexel
Olivia Enos
30
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
How Long Can Russia’s Weakening Economy Support Putin’s War on Ukraine?
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Volodymyr Lugovskyy
Dr. Anders Aslund
Thomas J. Duesterberg
Getty Images
30
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
How Long Can Russia’s Weakening Economy Support Putin’s War on Ukraine?

Join noted Russian and Ukrainian economists and Hudson Senior Fellow Thomas Duesterberg for an event that will analyze how growing economic problems are affecting Vladimir Putin’s war effort and its ability to avoid an economic crisis.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Volodymyr Lugovskyy
Dr. Anders Aslund
Thomas J. Duesterberg
03
November 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Congressman Rich McCormick on Securing American AI Leadership
Featured Speakers:
Congressman Rich McCormick
Jason Hsu
Representative Rich McCormick speaks during a House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing on January 11, 2024. (Getty Images)
03
November 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Congressman Rich McCormick on Securing American AI Leadership

Senior Fellow Jason Hsu will host Congressman Rich McCormick (R-GA), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and Foreign Affairs Committee and a former member of the bipartisan Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, for a conversation on securing American AI leadership.

Representative Rich McCormick speaks during a House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing on January 11, 2024. (Getty Images)
Featured Speakers:
Congressman Rich McCormick
Jason Hsu