On 7–9 July 2025, a representative of the National Agency of Ukraine for Finding, Tracing and Management of Assets Derived from Corruption and Other Crimes (ARMA) took part in the Plenary Session of the Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The session was held in Paris, French Republic, within the framework of the fifth round of monitoring Ukraine’s implementation of the Istanbul Anti-Corruption Action Plan.

The Istanbul Anti-Corruption Action Plan is a regional initiative aimed at expert evaluation of anti-corruption reforms in ten countries, including Ukraine. The monitoring process covers a broad range of political, preventive, and law enforcement measures and is based on a methodology tailored to the region’s specific context. In January 2025, the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP), in cooperation with other government bodies, submitted detailed responses to the OECD Monitoring Questionnaire covering nine key areas of anti-corruption policy.

From March to May 2025, in preparation for the final evaluation phase, a series of virtual expert consultations were held between OECD monitors and Ukrainian state institutions, including the submission of additional documents and clarifications. Based on this process, the monitoring team prepared a draft report, which was shared with all relevant institutions — including ARMA — for review. Following the submission of comments and proposals by the NACP to the OECD Secretariat, the first round of bilateral consultations began.

ARMA was represented at the event by Vladyslav Zhornytskyi, Head of the Department of International Cooperation and European Integration. During the discussion of the draft monitoring report, ARMA presented key results of its institutional performance — particularly in the areas of finding, tracing, and managing seized assets.

“Between 2023 and 2024, the Agency significantly increased performance indicators in both the finding of assets and the coordination of international cooperation, demonstrating sustained institutional capacity,” emphasized Vladyslav Zhornytskyi.

According to the draft report:

• ARMA’s critical role in international cooperation has been acknowledged — assisting foreign authorities in the tracing and recovery of assets.
• ARMA remains the only body in Ukraine with dedicated structural units for performing these functions.
• The use of the Prozorro.Sale platform has improved transparency in auctions for the sale of confiscated assets.

In August 2023, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the Asset Recovery Strategy for 2023–2025, identifying legislative reforms, institutional capacity-building, enhanced interagency and international cooperation, and stronger legal representation of Ukraine’s interests as key priorities. To implement the Strategy, an action plan was adopted and a dedicated working group established for coordination.

In practice, ARMA has demonstrated active efforts in the finding and seizure of illicit assets:

• The CARIN 2024 Annual Report recorded that Ukraine ranked first globally in the number of tracing requests submitted, and third in the number of received and processed requests.
• In 2023 and 2024, ARMA reported the finding of 92,000 and 146,000 assets respectively.
• In 2023, ARMA received 5,900 asset tracing requests in criminal proceedings (1,160 related to corruption crimes) from investigative bodies, prosecutors, and judges.
• In 2024, the number of tracing requests amounted to 5,449.

The report also emphasized current limitations in ARMA’s mandate that require strengthening: the Agency is not authorized to independently initiate recovery processes, which are governed by mutual legal assistance mechanisms coordinated by the Office of the Prosecutor General and the Ministry of Justice. Despite this, ARMA systematically provides legal and informational support for recovery procedures and initiates international requests within its powers.

The OECD report underscored that successful asset recovery depends on close cooperation between institutions. Any barriers to such cooperation should be proactively eliminated. While ARMA has facilitated the seizure of assets abroad, the recovery of those assets requires more rapid interagency coordination and improved recognition of Ukrainian court rulings by foreign jurisdictions. Currently registered Draft Law No. 12446 would authorize ARMA to approach foreign jurisdictions to legalize Ukrainian court decisions abroad.

As part of implementing the 2023–2025 Asset Recovery Strategy, ARMA is actively engaged in strengthening interagency coordination and advancing transparency tools — in particular, by utilizing the Prozorro.Sale electronic system to dispose of confiscated assets.

ARMA will continue to actively participate in future stages of the OECD monitoring process to ensure an objective international evaluation of its operations and to support reforms in the finding, tracing, management, and recovery of assets derived from corruption and other crimes.