The Impact of Corruption on Social Change: Case Study of Ukraine

• In Event: Organized Crime and Human Trafficking: Victims and the Criminal Justice Response

Abstract

In post-Soviet Ukraine, oligarchs gradually strengthened their alliances with officials of all branches of government, enhancing political corruption and the activities of organized crime. The peak came during President Viktor Yanukovych’s presidency. Between 2010 and the beginning of 2014 all power concentrated in his hands and his cronie and most of all his, "family". The Ukrainian revolution of 2013-2014, which led to the overthrow of the Yanukovych regime, was motivated in large part by the systemic corruption of his kleptocratic regime. I will examine how the power structures in this regime came about, how the preceding government failed to fight against corruption, and what initial decisions the new government has made to combat corruption. I will also discuss obstacles in the fight against dirty money flows, and the role of the international community in seeking and recovering the dirty assets of Ukrainian Politically Exposed Persons.

Author

• Olena Shostko, Yaroslav the Wise National Law University