Taras Zagorodniy, managing partner of the National Anti-Crisis Group, believes that Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies “go somewhere wrong and create their own diktat” when they initiate cases against government officials who make quick or reform decisions.
In particular, he draws attention to the case against former Deputy Defense Minister Vyacheslav Shapovalov, who was taken into custody in February at the request of the DBR. However, the court ruling established that Shapovalov is not charged with a corruption article at all.
The prosecution and the investigators point out that Shapovalov had a “useful intent” to purchase bulletproof vests for the Armed Forces of Ukraine without including a quality item in the contracts. At the same time, the court ruled that it was about the purchase of body armor from 9 companies, each of which had NATO certificates. Procurement began immediately after February 24, 2022, when the number of the Armed Forces of Ukraine grew rapidly and everyone needed to be equipped.
“Quality goods - and this is the lion’s share of supplies at that time - are now used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Those found to be of poor quality were not used by the army for a minute and are now being returned to suppliers. Basically the whole story. But who cares to delve into such details? Zagorodny notes in his text on Liga.Blogs.
In his opinion, the case against Shapovalov is part of a global problem, according to which anti-corruption bodies generate their dictate. “The main ideology of this diktat is: hold a high state post, make quick, non-standard or reformist decisions - be afraid of being arrested, there will be an article,” writes Zagorodny.
Another example of this trend, he calls the case of the former Minister of Infrastructure Andriy Pivovarsky, who launched the reform of Ukrzaliznytsia, formed the Board and the Supervisory Board for it, and launched a system for financing the road sector. Based on the results of his work, the ex-minister received suspicion from NABU and SAPO.
“I am firmly convinced that one of the greatest achievements of Ukraine in the thirty years of Independence is a strong system of anti-corruption bodies. The only question now is where they direct their power. And do they use the mind? - notes Zagorodny.
Such decisions, he believes, are a disaster for the country, because they discourage talented people from working for the state. “For who smart will go to a government post to change something in this country if he knows in advance that he will be imprisoned?”
Header photo: Vyacheslav Shapovalov and Andrey Pivovarsky
Source: Fakty
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