NABU is preparing for another audit: international experts will assess the effectiveness of anti-corruption activists

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine has to undergo an independent external assessment of its effectiveness every year and is currently preparing for an audit. This was reported by the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative, UNN writes.

A competition for the position of auditor is currently underway, including five vacancies for the Secretariat of the Independent External Evaluation of the NABU's performance.

It should be noted that foreign experts in their report on the results of the previous audit identified a number of problems in the NABU's activities. In particular, the auditors concluded that detectives need to communicate with psychologists and the ombudsman to report problems in the workplace. 

The NABU audit also revealed signs of low morale among anti-corruption officers and a massive desire to leave the bureau. In particular, the detectives were "stressed" by the war and bureaucracy.

In addition, international auditors have stated that the HACC considers cases for years, while NABU detectives can investigate them for decades. However, as practice shows, the duration of an anti-corruption investigation does not affect its quality, as "high-profile" NABU cases against high-ranking officials have repeatedly fallen apart in courts.

A good example is the criminal proceedings against former Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan. Both cases collapsed in the courts. However, NABU did not officially apologize to the former minister for illegal criminal prosecution and damage to his business reputation.

One of the recent "high-profile" cases that NABU has been investigating for five years is the case against the former Minister of Agrarian Policy Mykola Solskyi. According to the investigation, Solskyi allegedly took possession of land plots in Sumy region that allegedly belonged to the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences.

However, as it turned out later, neither he, nor his family or affiliates have such land. However, ATO participants, who have been granted the right to privatize them, do. The NABU refused to specify what exactly Solsky had seized . Moreover, the detectives tried to "leak" the examination, which they themselves had ordered and which, apparently, was supposed to testify to Solsky's innocence. However, the public accusations had their effect - Solsky resigned from his post as minister.

Recall

At the end of May, the NABU was caught up in a high-profile scandal - it became known about the alleged disclosure of data from the pre-trial investigation by representatives of the bureau in the interests of alleged businessman Yuriy Holyk, who is a person involved in the anti-corruption investigation into the Big Construction.

Due to this case, NABU Director Semen Kryvonos suspended his first deputy Gizo Uglava from his duties for the duration of the pre-trial investigation.

In addition, on June 20, another journalistic investigation was published about the alleged leakage of data from the NABU, in which the bureau's director, Semen Kryvonos, was implicated.

Following the scandals, MPs from the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Anti-Corruption Policy summoned NABU Director Semen Kryvonos to a meeting. However, he ignored the summons , claiming that it was premature to discuss the investigation into alleged data leaks. After that, the MPs decided to hold an offsite meeting at NABU, but it is not yet known when it will take place.