Officials annually declare monetary gifts totaling over 3.4 billion hryvnias
This is discussed in the publication by the National Agency on Corruption Prevention.
The practice of reflecting significant amounts of received gifts in cash in declarations has remained stable over recent years, according to the report.
Thus, in 2021, 24.2 thousand declarations indicated cash gifts totaling 3.48 billion UAH. In 2022, in 20.3 thousand declarations, gifts amounted to 3.92 billion UAH. In 2023, 24.2 thousand declarations contain information about gifts worth 3.52 billion UAH. In the declarations for 2024, submitted by 25.4 thousand individuals, gift-related amounts total 4.39 billion UAH.
"Of course, everyone, including public officials, may have wealthy and generous relatives and other close persons. However, some unscrupulous officials declare supposedly gifted money to legalize illegal income," – emphasizes the National Agency.
During full checks of declarations, the NACP detects violations in declaring income in the form of gifts. For example, declarants may be unable to provide supporting documents for such gifts, or the NACP establishes that the gifted funds exceed the legal income of the donors themselves.
"In the 2022 declaration, the head of the Ochakiv City Council of Mykolaiv Region indicated receiving a gift from his mother worth over 9.1 million UAH based on a notarized donation agreement," – provides an example from the NACP.
During a full check, it was established that the size of the gift significantly exceeds the mother's income. Signs of illegal enrichment were identified, and the National Police of Ukraine is conducting pre-trial investigation.
In the 2023 declaration, the head of the Arziz State Notarial Office in Odesa Region indicated receiving a cash gift from his mother worth over 18.28 million UAH, received according to a notarized donation agreement. At the same time, during a full check, the financial capacity of the parents to make such a gift was not confirmed. The NPU is conducting pre-trial investigation.
The court clerk of Uzhgorod City and District Court of Zakarpattia Region declared in his 2023 declaration over 8 million UAH in cash, with sources indicated as a gift from godparents. However, during a full check, circumstances confirming the receipt of such a gift were not established. The NPU is conducting pre-trial investigation.
A similar situation was identified during the verification of the declaration of a deputy of the Zakarpattia Regional Council, who in the "Cash Assets" section of the 2023 declaration indicated a significant amount of savings, with sources indicated as a monetary gift from parents. No documents confirming the financial capacity of the parents to make such a gift were provided, and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine is conducting pre-trial investigation.
"These examples illustrate typical cases of declaring significant income based on gifts from relatives without confirming the sources of funds," – notes the NACP.
