Anti-Corruption Reform and Business Security in Ukraine: Glass Half Full?
The Ukrainian government needs to tackle systemic problems in order to attract much needed foreign investment
The current government of Ukraine came into office with the monumental task of overhauling a broken system of law and order. This has come not only at a time of extreme economic hardship, but also as the country is fighting foreign-backed separatists in its eastern regions. Ukraine is in great need of foreign investment to ensure its own security. To increase the country’s attractiveness to investors, the Ukrainian government, with support from the international community, is attempting to understand, prioritise and address the systemic problems within its political, economic and cultural systems.
Corruption has been the most prominent issue of the reform discussion. This has not only caused huge losses for the state and the Ukrainian people, but it has also been one of the most significant deterrents to outside investors. It has eroded any trust in the country’s system of governance. The government has placed tackling corruption at the forefront of its reform agenda.
About the Authors
Sarah Lain is a Research Fellow in Russian studies at RUSI. She focuses on defence and security issues relevant to Russia and the former Soviet Union, including corruption and financial crime. Prior to joining RUSI, Sarah was an Assistant Manager in the Corporate Intelligence team in KPMG London’s Forensic practice. Prior to this she worked as an Associate Consultant on the Russia/CIS desk of the Corporate Investigations department at Control Risks. In both roles, she conducted integrity due-diligence research, fraud investigations and anti-bribery and corruption risk assessments, with a focus on Russia and the CIS.
Alisa Voznaya is a Manager in KPMG’s Risk Consulting department. She is an experienced political-risk and corporate-intelligence professional, who specialises in providing integrity due-diligence, strategic intelligence and political-risk services covering Russia and the former Soviet Union. Prior to joining KPMG, Alisa worked at Control Risks and contracted with Exclusive Analysis (now part of IHS), delivering due-diligence and political-risk projects. Alisa holds a DPhil in Politics and International Relations from the University of Oxford, having completed her doctoral dissertation on the topic of corruption and party systems. She holds an MPhil in Russian and East European Studies, also from the University of Oxford, and has worked as a research assistant and consultant on numerous research projects relating to corruption, governance, and Russia and the CIS.