All states grapple with the need to find a balance between national security concerns and the freedom of information. The risks of failing to control sensitive information related to national security can be extremely serious. Excessive secrecy enables corruption, hinders effective policy-making and planning, and, ultimately decreases public trust in the government.
As Ukraine continues to fight Russia’s protracted military aggression in the East, it is understood that a higher level of secrecy is required to protect national security. However, this should not justify non-compliance with international best practices in secrecy classification.
NAKO's Secrecy Brief presented the analysis of international principles and best practices to illustrate the direction that Ukraine should follow while reviewing the current system of classification and adjusting its legislation. The Brief also provides clear recommendations on how to improve Ukraine’s Classification Regime.