A fresh scandal in Ukraine. Bribes in exchange for closing fiscal proceedings

According to the information provided by Interaction, Ukrainian safety Service officers detained a high-ranking authoritative and 2 deputy regional management of the branch. Men were to accept a bribe of $620,000 in exchange for closing proceedings against an amber entrepreneur. The detention was made during the transfer of part of the money – over $270,000.

The fresh corruption scandal in the structures of Ukrainian safety services shows that even in war conditions the state is not free from pathology. The case of arresting a high-ranking SBU officer and his associates is not only a criminal incident, but besides a symptom of a wider phenomenon – increasing oligarchical and mafia fortunes in the shadow of the conflict with Russia.

This is simply a much broader problem. The war, which by definition should mobilise the state apparatus to maximum transparency and efficiency, besides creates conditions for abuse in practice. Administrative chaos, immense financial flows and weakened organization control become the perfect environment for corruption.

In this case, it is peculiarly worrying that the case afraid officers liable for national security. This means that public interest protection mechanisms have been utilized for private enrichment, which undermines assurance in the institution at a time erstwhile it is crucial for the functioning of the State.

This is not a fresh phenomenon. past of armed conflicts shows that wars frequently lead to a concentration of assets in the hands of narrow groups – oligarchs, intermediaries and mafia structures. Ukraine is no exception here – it confirms the regulation with an excess, due to the fact that in times of peace in this overeating corruption of the country was not much better.

Huge financial resources from abroad, military contracts, trade in natural materials or control of strategical sectors of the economy – all of this creates a space to make gigantic profits. any of them go into the legal economy, but a large part feeds the grey region and clienteletical layouts.

An example of the amber industry, appearing in the case of detainees, is peculiarly meaningful. Before the war, the sector was linked to illegal mining and criminal groups. The conflict only deepened these phenomena, expanding rates and limiting state control. In practice, this means that, in parallel with the war effort, alternate economics are created – based on informal ties, corruption and political influence. Under specified conditions, the fortunes of people who can take advantage of the crisis are growing.

The Oligarchs strengthen their position through access to contracts and resources, while mafia structures make activities in areas specified as smuggling, illegal mining or proceeds trading. The boundary between these groups can be fluid.

The detention of an SBU officer shows that this problem besides permeates state institutions. If those liable for combating crime themselves participate in corruption, this means the systemic nature of the phenomenon. specified cases are peculiarly dangerous for Ukraine. They undermine the credibility of the reforms and can weaken global support, which Russia, of course, is counting on, emphatically recalling that it is simply a country consumed by corruption and crime.

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