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Interview with Oleksii Khmara, President of Toro Creative Union, part of the Transparency International network

Toro Creative Union based out of Kirovograd, Ukraine, is a civil society organisation that strives to develop democratic procedures and citizen participation in the Ukraine. Since 2009 this human rights watch organisation has also been acting as Transparency International’s contact in the Ukraine.

Приехав в Украину, вы обязательно ощутите незабываемый вкус колоритной национальной традиции – взяточничества! Так приветствует всех желающих посетить Украину один из международных туристических порталов.

I have been living in Kirovograd, Ukraine for nine weeks, and it feels strange that I am about to leave. I feel that my time here has passed so quickly, but I have been able to accomplish and experience so much. I have made some great friends in Kirovograd and have met a lot of very interesting people.

Since the 1st of July 2010, the Ministry of Justice is aimed at looking for the factors fostering corruption in the projects of normative-legal acts, which are prepared by the officials of different levels. For conducting an expertise, the Ministry has developed a special document - the guidelines which define those factors and the methods of their detection. What are the opportunities to prevent corruption and what risks contain the document, explained the experts of the Creative Union "TORO", Transparency International - National Contact in Ukraine.

На сайте ТОРО доступна для скачивания книга Пола Раду "Следите за деньгами: Пособие для журналистов, разоблачающих коррупцию".

The overall effectiveness of the local administrations in the Kirovohrad region to implement the Concept of promoting the civil society development by the executive authorities does not exceed on the regional level 65% and on the district level 25%. At the same time, 3 of the 9 district state administrations which were submitted to the expertise, in actual fact did not even take part in the implementation of the Concept.

In the full of summer heat in Kiev was hot for another reason. In Ukraine, involving more than 70 representatives of ministries and departments, a special training on the implementation of the new legislation on conflict of interests has taken place. Within this framework, one of the leading international experts in the field of integrity, a Board member of Transparency International Belgium, Evert Jan Lammers visited Ukraine. Mr. Lammers found an opportunity to meet with the editorial staff of the newsletter “On the way to integrity” and to answer in the short interview some questions about similarities and differences in approaches to preventing corruption in Ukraine and Belgium.

Civil society activists of the Kirovohrad region will control the conduction of consultations with civil society during the decision-making by authorities; the experts of Transparency International Czech Republic will assist them and the local authorities will provide with information. Those results were achieved during the round table composing of civil society activists, authority’s representatives and experts from Transparency International Czech Republic, on the 15th of July 2010.

So far I have been in Ukraine for only a week, but it feels as though it has been much longer. In Kirovograd, I am living with a family, who from the moment I arrived has made me feel like part of their family.

In  Lviv, on the 8th of June, the representatives of the Consortium composed of non-governmental organizations of Ukraine, as well as the representatives of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation and the members of the Office of Government Commissioner for anti-corruption policies discussed the Anti-corruption strategy. In particular, during the discussion the matters of an anti-corruption legislation and the role of civil society in this process were considered. The event was supported by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.

The Ukrainian President and government announce that they want to conduct anticorruption reforms. This became the stimulus for the new research with the assistance of the international organization, Transparency International.

ARTICLE 19 and International Media Support (IMS) are calling on President Viktor Yanukovych and his administration to ensure that Ukraine upholds its commitments to freedom of expression and in particular press freedom under the European Convention of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.  Since the end of February 2010, the press freedom situation in the country has deteriorated markedly. 

Despite the end of the academic year, activists of Kharkiv youth organizations decided to continue training. At a time when other students were listening to the last school bell and attending graduation parties, these young activists were organizing and conducting a training seminar called “How Public Youth Organizations Can Resist Corruption.”

This conclusion can be taken from the discussion “How the community can resist Corruption: Approaches of Transparency International,” which was held on May 20th in Kiev.

Ukrainian Vice-Prime Minister, Volodymyr Sivkovich and Andrey Bogdan, who is the Deputy Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers and the government representative concerning anticorruption politics, held a working discussion with Miklosh Marshal, the Regional Director in Europe and Central Asia Region of Transparency International (Berlin, Germany).

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) -- Ukrainian prosecutors say they are reopening a bribery investigation involving former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko that was suspended in 2005.

Такие выводы содержатся в отчете о ходе выполнения в Украине Европейской политики соседства, который был обнародован Европейской комиссией.

Нам и раньше доводилось слышать о том, какой разительный контраст составляет жизнь Винницы и других городов сходного масштаба, об уникальном городском голове этого города и его достижениях. Поэтому «УЦ» сразу откликнулась на приглашение Виктора Андреева, начальника Главного управления ЖКХ облгосадминистрации, посетить соседний областной центр вместе с делегацией коммунальников Кировоградщины и увидеть все своими глазами. Результат превзошел все мыслимые и немыслимые ожидания!

About 60 representatives of the CSOs and departments of justice from seven regions of Ukraine took part in the seminar.  The main topics for discussion were: improving the practice of the CSO registration, legal assistance to the CSOs in reporting and compliance with their statutory requirement and acting legislation, as well as legal mechanisms of citizen participation in the government policy development and implementation. Civic leaders had an opportunity to hear first-hand from Olena Semyorkina, Director of the Department of CSO legalization and registration of printed media of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, as well as from the independent experts.

The first seating of the National Anticorruption Committee within the President of Ukraine set out the necessity of involving the community in corruption counteraction. Therefore, the President Viktor Yanukovich instructed the Executive Secretary of the Committee to work out the format of increasing the Committee by involving the community.

During the first seating of the National Anticorruption Committee Viktor Yanukovich offered the Prime-Minister of Ukraine to initiate the change of the Governmentally Authorized Person in Anticorruption Policy. The President sees Minister of Justice O.Lavrinovich as a coordinator of state anticorruption policy. The community supposes this step to be the beginning of the end of existence of the institution of the Governmentally Authorized Person.

President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych chaired a meeting of the National Anti-Corruption Committee.

In his speech the President stressed that fighting corruption in Ukraine remains the main nationwide problem. "This is the issue that directly affects the interests of every citizen and has been a "national headache"," he said.

В Кировограде пройдут общественные слушания по вопросу ликвидации районных советов

Anticorruption initiatives of the new authorities leave aside the sphere of punishment execution of Ukraine. During the year 2010, 1500 civil servants and officials who conduct work regarding corruption prevention, will undergo special professional development training. At the same time there is not a single employee of Criminal-executive system of Ukraine among them.

Взяточник как объект исследования нейронауки

Первый на этой планете официально зарегистрированный «указ о борьбе с коррупцией» был принят шумерским царем Урукагиной, который правил в Ла-гаше во второй половине ЮЛУ в. до н. э. То есть — более четырех тысяч лет назад. Согласно этому указу, взяточничество приравнивалось к государственной измене — со всеми вытекающими. 

Международная летняя антикоррупционная школа приглашает на обучение студентов, аспирантов и молодых специалистов из Украины, Эстонии, Латвии, Литвы, Молдовы, России и Беларуси. С 6-го по 9-е июля 2010 года они смогут пройти обучение у ведущих специалистов и ученных, которые объяснят причины коррупционного поведения и представят инструменты противодействия коррупции, актуальные для постсоветских государств. 

Шановні пані та панове!

Прийняття Парламентом  нового антикорупційного законодавства та, з іншого боку, відтермінування набуття ним чинності до 1 січня 2011 року, введення Урядом посади Уповноваженого з питань антикорупційної політики та створення Президентом Януковичем Національного антикорупційного комітету свідчать, що корупція залишається дуже значною проблемою для України. Держава ніби прагне продемонструвати серйозність намірів їй протидіяти.

To the President of Ukraine
Viktor Yanukovich
01220, Kyiv, Bankova Street 11

 

An open letter to the President of Ukraine
As for the principles of forming
National Anti-corruption Committee

 

Honorable Viktor Fedorovych!

 

Creative Union “TORO”, Transparency International National Contact in Ukraine, shares your concern as for the high level of corruption in Ukraine.

In order to be aware of all the corruption and anti-corruption events in Ukraine, you don’t need to study tens of web pages and read hundreds of news any more. Experts of Creative Union “TORO” will do it for you and will present the most interesting. Thanks to the new initiative of the organization, the most interesting anti-corruption events of the month will be put into one place. All the news, scandals, analytics and accidents related to corruption, will be installed in the information bulletin “On the way to morality”, which everyone can get.

Ukraine needs changes! Real changes. A new President means a chance for change. We, Ukrainians, cannot allow the next opportunity for change to be lost.

Today we call on the winner of the Presidential election to address the people in a Public Forum, initiated by the New Citizen Public Campaign, to tell Ukrainians how, when and what he will do to overcome the crisis and to develop Ukraine.

The approaches to funds search, developed by Creative Union “TORO”, have been recognized as one of the best in Ukraine. Such a decision was taken by the expert council of specialists in the sphere of information-communication technologies and civic sector in the framework of the competition, conducted among Non-governmental organizations of Ukraine.

Very soon, each person who wants to learn how to conduct civic expertise will get everything needed. With this aim, the specialized Internet-resource, which will give its users thorough assistance in conducting expertise, is being created now. In order to provide qualitative assistance, the search for specialists who will be able to provide the user with professional consultations has been started.

The Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers, which adopted the Order of collecting and publishing information about legal persons, sued for corruptive infringements, has come into force – as informed by zaxid.net. 

DEAR FRIENDS!

Accept our most sincere congratulations on the New Year and Christmas!

New Year is the bright, beautiful, important and funny holiday with...

Уходящий год Красного быка запомнился украинцам чередой громких коррупционных скандалов, и не менее громкими обещаниями властьимущих раз и навсегда разобраться с коррупционерами. Что же на самом деле сделали правоохранители и чиновники, общественность и международные организации, для того, чтобы нам жилось лучше и веселее, а страна была менее коррумпированной.

To the President of Ukraine

Viktor Yushenko

01220, Kyiv, Bankova Street 11

Open appeal to the President of Ukraine

on the necessity of putting a veto upon the decision of

Verhovna Rada as for postponing new anti corruption legislation

 

They call it true happiness. They consider it a great wonder. Despite their age, each of them is sure that it is the essence of his life. Since it awakens what is hidden deep in the soul. That’s what makes men really happy. 

In July-September 2009, project “Hidna Ukraine” together with “Creative center TSK” conducted financial check of the selected organizations – project granters. The aim of the audit was to conduct check up of the purpose-oriented fund usage, obtained from the company “Management Systems International”, by civic organizations of Ukraine

We are always ready to help you!

Lustration – a word, which again started to be used by political figures. It’s been probably the first time since Orange Revolution. It is promised by candidates for the position of the President for everybody: Tymoshenko, Yanukovich, to the orange ones, the young orange ones – to the old ones, and the latter – to everybody who is against everybody. 

Today, a round table meeting took place in Kirovohrad Institute of Human Development “Ukraina” with the assistance of the department of Inner Policy and Public Relations of Regional State Administration. The topic was “Legal provision of the activity of civic organizations of Ukraine: advantages and disadvantages of the current legislation”.

More than 10 state and non-governmental institutions headed by Government Authorized Person in anti corruption policy, having developed new national anti corruption strategy, were able to make the community concerned. 

By its last actions UEFA has confirmed the unconsoling conclusions of Transparency International anti corruption experts. The recent statement of international football organization opened global scale of corruption in big football. 

Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2009 shows that corruption remains a very serious problem for Ukraine. Annual global research of Transparency International indicates that Ukraine together with the countries of Eastern, South-Eastern Europe and Central Asia is perceived by its population as a highly corrupt state. All these countries have got the score of corruption spread beneath 5 points from the 10 possible (according to the scale, where 0 means total corruption of the state, 10 – practical absence of corruption). This year position of Ukraine in the so called rank of corrupted countries of the world with the score 2.2 points and general tempo of corruption spread in the state indicate the necessity of decisive steps in order to save the country and escape from the corruption abyss.

On the 3rd of November Creative Union “TORO”, Contact group of Transparency International in Ukraine, sent an open letter to the Prime-Minister of Ukraine Yuliya Timoshenko, which related to the non-transparency of using by the government of Ukraine of 50 million hryvnas allocated in summer of the current year for preventing epidemic of Californian flue in the state. On the 5th of November, Ministry of Health of Ukraine created a commission, which will follow the procedure of distribution of money for overcoming flue epidemic.

Honorable Yuliye Volodymyrivno!

We demand from you, the head of the central organ of executive authority in Ukraine, in the shortest terms to inform the community of Ukraine about the use of 50 million hryvnas, which were allocated in summer of 2009, with the purpose of preventing epidemic of Californian flue. We remind you, Mrs. Timoshenko, that according to the law of Ukraine “About Cabinet of Ministers” the government, which you are the head of, is supposed to perform functions of providing state policy in health care sphere; it allocated state funds in the amount of 50 million hryvnas in order to prevent spreading in Ukraine of Californian flue A/H1N1, which is as well known as the swine flue. From the interview of   Mr. Vasyl Knyazevych, Minister of Health of Ukraine, given by him on the 1st of November, 2009 in the live broadcast of TV channel “1+1” it came to light that tender procedures on disbursement of the assigned funds were conducted with the break of the current legislation of Ukraine and with the clear features of corruptive actions; as a result Ukraine remained actually unready to fight flue epidemic...

With around 300 representatives from Transparency International (TI) chapters from some 100 countries and territories, the organisation’s 2009 annual membership meeting held in Berlin from 17-18 October was the largest to date.

At this meeting, Ukraine was represented by Creative Union "TORO" as TI's contact group in Ukraine...

In search of new effective technologies of informing the community Creative Union “TORO” visited Poland. During 6 days representatives of Polish authorities, mass media and civic organizations shared their experience of interaction and best practices of spreading information.

12 жовтня 2009 року на засіданні урядового Комітету з питань гуманітарної та соціальної політики, очолюваного Іваном Васюником, було ініційовано скасування державного електронного реєстру громадських експертиз.