According to the press service of the Ministry of Defenсe, citing the acting director of the department, Serhii Stepanian, the Department for the Prevention of Corruption has been established at the Ministry of Defenсe. Previously, this anti-corruption body operated as a office.
The public is asked to report to the above-mentioned body in case of detection of corruption risks or violations in case of abuse of power by officials in the field of defence procurement.
What corruption offences should be reported?
- on financial control (information specified in electronic declarations);
- on prevention and settlement of conflicts of interest, concurrent employment and combining with other activities;
- on receipt of gifts, joint work of close persons, as well as other restrictions and prohibitions.
Currently, the newly established Department is in the process of recruiting specialists to fill vacant positions.
According to Serhii Stepanian, the key goal of the newly created Department is to implement the principle of zero tolerance for corruption. He emphasised that the Ministry is already implementing defence procurement reform, including increasing transparency in procurement.
Earlier, NAKO analysed the new draft law on defence procurement adopted in February 2023. According to our estimates, it only partially promotes transparency of procurement.
The Ministry of Defence is also in the process of selecting members to its Public Council. NAKO applied to join it.