According to the study "Corruption Perception Index-2023", which was published by the international anti-corruption organization Transparency International, Ukraine scored 36 points and ranked 104th among 180 countries of the world. The results of this study are already available on the organization's official website.
It was highlighted that over the past year, Ukraine improved its position, gaining three points of growth, which is one of the best indicators in the world. It is noted that after the Revolution of Dignity, the country scored 11 points, which is the largest increase among candidate countries for the European Union.
While Ukraine shows positive trends, it remains behind the EU average, with an average score of 64. Denmark has the highest score of 90, while Hungary has the lowest score of 42.
Transparency International recommends three key steps for Ukraine to improve the fight against corruption and restore the country in 2024:
— Increase the effectiveness of the fight against top corruption. Increase the capacity and conduct an objective competitive selection of employees of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, prosecutors of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office and judges of the High Anti-Corruption Court. Initiate reform of forensic services to ensure timely and unwavering access to forensic expertise. Eliminate inconsistencies in criminal legislation and ensure that cases are processed in a reasonable time frame.
— Effectively use the assets of corrupt officials and Russian henchmen for the needs of the state. Change management selection procedures and conduct an independent audit of ARMA's activities. Improve confiscation mechanisms and the legal framework for asset recovery, aligning them with international standards. Improve the processes of blocking Russian assets (as sanctions preceding confiscation) and introduce criminalization of sanctions evasion.
— Start the reform of the Accounting Chamber and the State Audit Service of Ukraine. Develop and adopt a draft law on reforming the Accounting Chamber and update the selection procedure for its management and members. Selection and appointment to the positions of the Accounting Chamber should be stopped until the legislative reform is carried out. Shift the focus of public procurement monitoring by the State Audit Service to prevention. It is necessary to conduct monitoring and identify significant violations before concluding a contract in order to prevent losses and other negative consequences.
