Ukraine: petition calls for the return of transparency on civil servants' assets

In Ukraine, the week began with the resignation of the defense minister amid a corruption scandal, and it continued with the launch on Wednesday of a petition demanding that state officials declare their assets. An approach that is very successful and shows that Ukrainian civil society wants to continue to control the state and its institutions.

The building of the presidential administration in Kiev (Illustration image). REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili

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Nearly 84,000 people have already signed this text published on the website of the Ukrainian presidency dedicated to citizens' initiatives, much more than the 25,000 needed for President Volodymyr Zelensky to respond. In the midst of petitions calling for the title of Hero of Ukraine to fallen soldiers, he is a little out of the picture, but it is indicative of the dynamism of Ukrainian civil society, and its desire not to lose its rights, even in times of war, reports our correspondent in Kiev, Pierre Alonso.

The petition calls on the president to veto a law passed by parliament that postpones by one year the requirement for civil servants to declare their assets. An obligation that existed before the invasion of Russia and was suspended for security reasons.

« The main guarantee against corruption »

The organizations behind this approach believe that "it is time to restore this control tool" to citizens and journalists, because it remains "the main guarantee against corruption". "A very important subject in times of war," they add, recalling "all the scandals concerning apartments, houses abroad and luxury cars already revealed."

Pushed by the European Union and the G7, President Zelensky has given assurances on this sensitive subject in recent months. On Thursday, a former ally, billionaire Igor Kolomoysky, was referred to court on suspicion of embezzling funds from a bank he co-founded. And in late August, more than 200 military enlistment centers were raided to eradicate a system that allows conscripts to pay to escape the army. The powerful Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov even had to leave his post, after several scandals within his ministry.

(

And with AFP)

Also listenInternational guest - Corruption in Ukraine: "Before the war, there was a systemic problem"

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