You're reading: Transparency International calls to cancel amendments to e-declaration legislation

Transparency International and its head Jose Ugaz have called on Ukrainian authorities to abolish controversial amendments to the law on prevention of corruption that appear designed to intimidate and target anti-corruption activists.

“These new provisions must be abolished immediately. Lawmakers are trying to intimidate civil society and in particular anti-corruption activists. If these amendments come into force, it will be clear that Ukrainian top officials are not serious about fighting corruption. It will show that they have chosen to side with those who want to quash the anti-corruption movement,” Ugaz said in a statement posted on the website of Transparency International.

The amendments would make it mandatory for leaders of anti-corruption groups to submit e-declarations of their assets, similar to those that are now mandatory for civil servants, judges, senior government employees and members of parliament.

“These amendments are a vindictive retaliation by lawmakers who are angry that they are required to declare their wealth. There is no justification for singling out anti-corruption groups,” Ugaz said.

For his part, Executive Director of Transparency International Ukraine Yaroslav Yurchyshyn noted that non-governmental organizations are overseen by the public and their donors.

“The relevant authorities review tax and financial reports. Our annual reports are available online. These new amendments which extend to organizations that work with us, if introduced, will complicate not only anti-corruption activity but the life of individuals indirectly assisting and supporting our work,” he said.

As reported, bill No. 6172 on amending certain laws of Ukraine on the specifics of financial control of certain categories of officials was supported by 268 lawmakers on March 23. This document exempts servicemen of the rank and file, sergeant, sergeant corps, junior officers from the obligation to file e-declarations. At the same time, the bill obliges individuals who receive funds and/or property for anti-corruption activities, in particular, heads of relevant public organizations, members of public councils under state agencies, candidates for elected offices, to file data on property and incomes.

When reviewing the bill in second reading the parliament passed a lot of amendments, some of which were presented only orally. Therefore the final text of the document is currently unknown.

The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine said the changes in legislation extending the list of those obliged to file electronic income declarations to include public activists is a step back in Ukrainian reforms.

“E-declarations for senior public servants is a strong step forward for reform in Ukraine. Members of civil society play vital role for transparency; targeting them is a step backwards,” the Embassy wrote on Twitter.

EU Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn for his part wrote on Twitter: “E-declarations should target #corruption in public administration – not hamper work of civil society. Changes to the law on e-declarations are a step back, not forward, and should be reconsidered.”

On March 27, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Andriy Parubiy signed the amendments to the legislation on e-declaration and submitted the document to the president.

On the same day, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed the bill.

Poroshenko said he will hold consultations in the presidential administration concerning the amendments to the legislation on e-declaration adopted by the parliament.

After a meeting with executive director of Transparency International Ukraine Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, the Ukrainian president said he cannot veto this bill, because these changes allow those who serve in the anti-terrorist operation zone not to file electronic declaration. At the same time, Poroshenko suggested activists should set up a working group to develop amendments to the document, which the president will then submit to parliament as urgent.

“Since the requirement to submit electronic declarations by representatives of non-governmental organizations will come in force only in 2018, on the proposal of the president of Ukraine, the sides agreed to create a working group involving representatives of non-governmental organizations, people’s deputies and representatives of the presidential administration with a view to developing the amendments to this law,” the president’s press service reported.