Scandal in ARMA due to "leak" of information about the search: responsibility may reach Duma

The scandal over the suspicion of an employee of the Western Interregional Territorial Department of ARMA, who, according to the investigation, informed her colleagues about the searches, may be wider. If it is proven that such actions were not an initiative on the ground, then the head of the agency, Olena Duma, should bear political responsibility. This opinion was expressed in an exclusive comment to UNN by political scientist, former secretary of the public council at ARMA Dmytro Gromakov.

Details

Recently, it became known that an employee of the Western Interregional Territorial Department of ARMA is suspected of unauthorized distribution of information with limited access. We are talking about data on the decision to search the premises of the territorial department itself. According to the investigation, the official, having learned about the investigation, informed the management. Experts note that ARMA has a centralized management vertical. Therefore, it is likely that the "monitoring of the court register" instruction is valid within the central apparatus, and the deputy heads of ARMA transfer it further - to the regions, where managers, such as the Western Territorial Department, involve "their people" for quick access to information.

According to Dmytro Gromakov, given the numerous investigations and questions that have arisen to the ARMA leadership, it can be assumed that the instruction on monitoring court decisions regarding investigative actions could be transmitted from the central office to the regions.

We have always said that Ms. Olena Duma bears political responsibility for the situation in ARMA, and, of course, if it was her instruction, then she must also bear responsibility for it. But the question is, who will be able to prove it, and the question is, how much did it interfere with the investigation in its work, this will be decided by the court and the relevant bodies 

In his opinion, there should be no such instructions in state bodies and such a phenomenon must be fought.

Let us remind you

The Accounting Chamber conducted an audit of ARMA for 2022-2023 and the first half of 2024, which showed significant problems in the agency's work.

In particular, the auditors focused on the following problems:

• imperfection of the mechanisms for selecting managers and appraisers of confiscated assets;
• incomplete data on assets in the register;
• unsettled relations between ARMA and the prosecutor's office and pre-trial investigation bodies.

Transparency International Ukraine, based on the results of the audit, pointed out the need to reform ARMA. Anti-corruption experts pointed out that the agency's activities currently raise serious concerns, including among international partners.