The Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) and the Security Service of Ukraine will strengthen cooperation in seizing assets derived from corruption and other crimes.
“ARMA is strengthening its fruitful cooperation with the SSU. As this is the state special-purpose body with law enforcement functions that identifies and prosecutes collaborators, traitors and sympathizers of the “russian world” in times of war, whose property should primarily work for the state and its economy,” said the Head of the ARMA Olena DUMA. – As a participant in the criminal proceedings (conducting pre-trial investigations and/or supporting criminal proceedings), the SSU, together with the Prosecutor’s office, submits a motion to seize the property of the above-mentioned persons. Joint pre-seizure planning will allow prosecutors and judges to prepare unified and accurate documents for further blocking, seizure and management of assets. In addition, in the future, ARMA will make it impossible for the body to receive property that cannot be managed due to the seizure of only the corporate rights or an incomplete part of the property.”
Thus, the National Agency has taken into account one of the recommendations of Transparency International Ukraine, according to which representatives of pre-trial investigation bodies and ARMA should discuss the expediency and parameters (scope, terms etc.) of criminal assets’ seizing.
Similar recommendations were provided in the European Commission’s report dated November 8 on Ukraine’s readiness for the EU accession negotiations.
The Agency also plans to organize joint pre-seizure planning with other pre-trial investigation agencies.
It is worth reminding that ARMA does not seize assets on its own, but receives them for management on the basis of a decision of an investigating judge, court or consent of the asset owner. A well-formulated decision is a guarantee of its prompt execution by the Agency's employees and, consequently, of higher revenues to the state budget from the management of seized assets.
