Two Bills Under Review for Ukraine's Anti-Corruption Strategy
Ukraine's parliament is currently examining two legislative proposals related to the national Anti-Corruption Strategy: Bill No. 15230, drafted by the National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NACP), and Bill No. 15230-1, submitted by the government. These documents differ by less than 1% in wording—only about 15 to 20 phrases. Despite their similarity, the government rejected several critical initiatives aimed at reforming how top law enforcement officials are selected.
Key Proposals and Government Pushback
Notably, the government refused to support introducing a competitive selection process for the Prosecutor General, which would have required presenting multiple candidates to the president.
Dmytro Kalmykov explained: 'The government did not back the original idea of a competitive procedure. Under that plan, the president would have received several strong candidates and then submitted the one he considered best to parliament for approval.'
Another rejected proposal would have established a clear and exhaustive list of grounds for dismissing the Prosecutor General. Kalmykov argued this was essential to protect the office's independence.
'Our goal was to shield the Prosecutor General from unjustified or politically motivated removal,' he emphasized.
The government also declined to support initiatives regarding:
- a competitive selection process for the head of the National Police involving international experts;
- improvements to the competitive selection procedure for the director of the State Bureau of Investigation.
At the same time, the government's bill retains provisions for holding competitive selections for leadership roles in central and regional National Police bodies. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the government's draft law 'On the Principles of State Anti-Corruption Policy for 2026–2030' and has forwarded it to parliament for consideration.
A survey conducted in Ukraine found that in 2008, 67.8% of Ukrainians reported experiencing corruption when interacting with authorities. By 2025, that figure had dropped to 18.2%, indicating some progress in the country's anti-corruption efforts.
The debate over these bills represents a pivotal moment in Ukraine's fight against corruption, as they aim to strengthen oversight and accountability mechanisms within law enforcement. The government's refusal to endorse key measures highlights the difficulty of reaching consensus on reforming the anti-corruption system. Still, the declining rate of public encounters with corruption suggests positive societal shifts and the potential for further policy advancements.
While the government's recent rejection of key anti-corruption initiatives raises concerns, it is crucial to examine how these decisions align with the broader framework of the newly approved anti-corruption strategy through 2030. For a deeper understanding of the government's overall approach and its implications for Ukraine's fight against corruption, you can read more about the recently approved anti-corruption strategy.