Maintaining sanity of anti-corruption system

During quarantine the risks of corruption are growing worldwide. As global markets get affected by COVID-19, uncertainty and worries may well provoke a surge in corruption, Deloitte notes.

One of the main tasks of the authorities in any country on the globe is to consolidate the fight against corruption at the level of laws adopted by the parliament.
In particular, in spring, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a large set of anti-crisis laws, which would provide for:

– severe penalties for unjustified price increases, speculative sales and resale of anti-epidemic and socially significant goods;
– prohibition of large-scale privatization during the quarantine;
– providing the opportunity to participate in court hearings by means of videoconference;
– extension of time limits of claims for the duration of the quarantine.

The parliament also introduced criminal liability for the export (shipment) of anti-epidemic goods across the customs border of Ukraine.

In particular, the draft Resolution 541-IX On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine Concerning Criminalization of Export (Shipment) of Anti-Epidemic Goods Across the Customs Border of Ukraine approved by the Verkhovna Rada supplements the Criminal Code of Ukraine with Article 201-2, which envisages criminal liability for exporting epidemic related goods from the country.

“We shall definitely return to the usual rhythm of life, but unfortunately the threat to human lives will not disappear in the near future. Therefore, we must learn to fight corruption effectively taking into account the new conditions and opportunities,” said Olena Moshenets, people’s deputy and Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Anti-Corruption Policy.