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.

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