The last meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers took place on February 14, at which the government was to approve a commission to elect the Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, meaning the appointment of 6 people: three from the Cabinet, another three — from international partners.
The Cabinet of Ministers held a private meeting and approved five instead of six members of the commission, which contradicts the requirements of the law. It excluded Drago Kos, one of the three international experts. TI Ukraine verified this information in two sources. However, the Cabinet of Ministers has not yet made public the official reasons.
The members of the tender commission must have an impeccable business reputation, high professional and moral qualities, public authority, as well as experience in law enforcement or anti-corruption activities for at least five years. According to TI Ukraine, Drago Kos meets each of these criteria.
Drago Kos, as one of the members of the commission for the selection of the SAPO, shows a stable and principled position, which probably could have influenced the decision of the Cabinet.
In such circumstances, the tender commission cannot start its work and is considered invalid. That is, the deadlines set by the legislation are not met. Any re-submission of candidates will only give an extra reason to contest the process and the outcome of the competition in court.
Members of the Cabinet of Ministers operate outside the law, which poses a threat to the selection of a professional and honest second director of the NABU.
We call on the Cabinet of Ministers to reconsider the matter and approve the full commission, together with the candidacy of Drago Kos, an international expert on anti-corruption! Only a transparent, open, and legal process of appointing members of the commission will make it possible to elect a worthy, independent, and politically neutral NABU leader.
