What did Ukraine's Constitutional Court ruling of 28 October 2020 undo?
A look back at a decision that struck at the core of the country's anti-corruption framework, days after local elections.
What did Ukraine's Constitutional Court decide on 28 October 2020, and why did it matter? The court issued a ruling that, as reported at the time, meant the end of electronic asset declarations. It also removed the powers of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention to carry out full checks and to monitor officials' lifestyles.
The ruling went further. It meant the abolition of liability for illicit enrichment, of the confiscation of assets acquired through corruption, and of liability for false declarations. Together, these were the main tools for scrutinising the wealth of public officials.
A tense moment
The decision came three days after the local elections of 25 October 2020, in which voters chose deputies of village, settlement and city councils, as well as village, settlement and city mayors. Turnout was about 37%, the lowest in the history of independent Ukraine.
The two events were separate, and nothing in the public reports links one to the other. Still, they fell within the same week: a low-turnout vote on local government, followed by a court ruling that dismantled core transparency and anti-corruption mechanisms. For readers assessing Ukraine's reform path, 28 October 2020 marked a moment when the legal basis of accountability for officials was suddenly in question.
