46.2 points out of 100.

This is exactly how much Drohobych received for its governmental transparency. These are the results of city transparency research, conducted based on the methodology of the Ukrainian chapter of the global anti-corruption network Transparency International. 

The representatives of the city council of Drohobych requested Transparency International to present the transparency ranking of 100 Ukrainian cities. Thus, the presentation took place on February 6th in Drohobych City Council, welcoming representatives of the city council, journalists and activists.

After the presentation of the research conducted in the hundred largest Ukrainian cities, Drohobych ranked 10th, winding up in the group of cities marked “orange”; these cities should resolve the problems of accountability and openness by using provided recommendations.

The highest point of 6.4 was given to the sector of land use and construction policy. Also, the sector of information on the work of local authorities and education sector did relatively well, with 4.7 and 4.5 points respectively. The other sectors demonstrated lower results.

Housing policy received less than 1 point, and 1 point was awarded to social or welfare services. The low ranking means that residents do not receive any information about these specific areas and authorities are unaccountable and closed off.

Coordinator of Transparent Cities Kateryna Tsybenko said, “The situation with transparency in Drohobych is not bad, and in some sectors, the city serves as a role model for others. For example, only in Drohobych there is a system of electronic registration of permissions for installation of small architectural forms exists. However, there is room for improvement and we have an extensive list of recommendations for the city such as the introduction of a code of ethics or electronic registration to improve living conditions and much more.”

At the meeting with the Transparent Cities team, Taras Kuchma, mayor of Drohobych, said, “What can be done so that the community would share what it sees happening, because it is interested in change? In order to achieve it, the authorities must be transparent and accountable, and we strongly believe in that. And the fact that we are on the 10th place is not an achievement which we gladly brag about. We do not care about the ranking, we want genuine transparency.”

TI Ukraine continues to work on the transparency in various Ukrainian regions and actively motivates citizens to seek governmental accountability whilst encouraging representatives of local self-government to be more transparent, as openness and transparency are the main criteria to decrease the level of corruption.