Numerous rallies outside the Rada yielded results: deputies passed anti-corruption laws. But will they work?
A body is being created in Ukraine that is intended to eradicate corruption in the country and provide high-paying jobs to approximately 700 Ukrainians.
Parliament has taken the first steps in the fight against corruption. Specifically, on October 7, parliamentarians voted in the first reading to establish the Anti-Corruption Bureau (AB). This body is expected to receive the final green light on October 14.
Pardon the mercantilism, members of parliament, but when discussing the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Ukrainians first noticed the agency's employees' salaries. By the standards of the average Ukrainian citizen, they are simply astronomical (see "Someone Else's Pocket"). The law's authors claim that the high salaries were established to discourage bribe-taking.
Komsomolskaya Pravda investigated who can qualify for a salary of 60 hryvnias per month, who will select candidates, and what kind of work will be highly valued by the state.
1. Who has a chance to join the ranks of anti-corruption fighters?
Let's start with the director. According to the law, the bureau director must have a higher education, speak the state language, and have at least five years of experience in a management position.
"It's not necessary for someone to have a law degree. A philologist, a journalist, or a construction worker could all qualify. After all, higher education isn't just about one's level of education, but also one's worldview," explains Viktor Chumak, head of the parliamentary anti-corruption committee.
A person with party registration, a candidate with a “corrupt past,” or someone who has been declared legally incompetent by a court cannot apply for a position in the AB.
"All candidates will undergo a rigorous background check. They'll check everything—their income and expenses for the past year, any shady past, conduct psychophysiological tests to assess their moral and psychological fortitude (to some extent, this will replace the requirement to provide a certificate from a psychologist and drug addiction specialist—Author's note). They'll even use a lie detector," Chumak explained.
As for the age of candidates, there are no restrictions.
"Theoretically, even a university graduate could work in the Anti-Corruption Bureau, but they would only apply for the most junior positions," the MP emphasized.
2. Who will recruit the staff?
A selection committee will assist in the staffing of the Anti-Corruption Bureau. It will include three representatives each from the President, the Cabinet of Ministers, and the Verkhovna Rada.
"Applicants to the selection committee must have a good business reputation, high professional and moral character, and public standing," the law states. But who will determine who has high moral character and who does not?
"All these criteria are determined by society. For example, the Rada will say 'stop' to those who lack moral authority in society. For example, who are some Fedorenko or Karpenko? A person should be known in society," Viktor Chumak reasons. "But if they propose Yevgeny Zakharov, we'll say: yes, we know this person. Bryukhovetsky—yes, we know him. Semyon Gluzman—yes, we know him."
According to the people's deputy, journalists and the public can exercise the strictest oversight. Based on the commission's recommendation, the president approves the bureau's director and heads of departments.
3. What will he do?
Among the main functions are the investigation of criminal proceedings against senior government officials: ministers and their deputies, the ombudsman, the heads of the Constitutional, Supreme, and high special courts, the prosecutor general and his deputies, the director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, and the head of the National Bank.
SOMEONE ELSE'S POCKET
Salaries at the Anti-Corruption Bureau (AB)*
Director - 60,900 hryvnia
First Deputy, Deputy Director - 48,720 hryvnias
Head of the Central Administration of the AB — 36,540 hryvnias
Head of the External Control Department - UAH 36,540
Directors of territorial administrations - 30,450 hryvnias
Heads of external control units of territorial administrations of the AB - UAH 30,450
Heads of AB units that conduct operational-search activities and pre-trial investigations - 24,360 hryvnias
Heads of operational and technical units - UAH 24,360
Heads of rapid response units - UAH 24,360
Investigators - 18,270 hryvnias
Ordinary employees of the AB receive salaries three times higher than those of employees of the same rank and position in the Cabinet of Ministers.
* Salary is linked to the minimum wage.
What can they pay extra for?
In the subject
Social protection of AB employees
In case of dismissal due to health reasons, contract expiration, or age, a one-time benefit is paid in the amount of 50% of the monthly salary for each calendar year of work in AB.
In case of dismissal due to family circumstances, a one-time benefit in the amount of 25% of the monthly salary for each calendar year of work in AB.
In the event of death in the line of duty, the family receives financial assistance equal to 10 years' salary. If, God forbid, a department head dies on the job, their family will receive almost 4,5 million hryvnias.
In case of injury in the line of duty – financial assistance in the amount of up to 5 years of the injured person’s salary.
Elena GALADZHY, TVNZ
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