Despite a public roundtable and open dialogue, ARMA has not received any proposals from the public sector regarding the modernization of the Register of Seized Assets.
After presenting the technical specifications for modernizing the Unified State Register of Seized Assets on May 16, ARMA summarized the results of its interaction with stakeholders.
The results were as expected. There was virtually no active participation by the public sector in improving the Register.
Despite widespread invitations to anti-corruption organizations, law enforcement agencies, the business community, and the media, the number of professional proposals was minimal. In fact, the only recommendations came from Transparency International Ukraine, which ARMA had already taken into account in the draft technical specifications prior to the presentation and discussed online.
Paradoxically, TI Ukraine itself did not attend the public discussion despite an official invitation, even though their proposals were included in the draft. This demonstrated a problematic trend in the work of many anti-corruption organizations, which limit themselves to criticizing the activities of state bodies without offering professional solutions to improve the system.
It is important to note that the Register of seized Assets is unique because, on the initiative of ARMA Head Olena Duma, it was opened to public access in 2023, while in most European countries such registers remain closed.
ARMA has demonstrated maximum openness to cooperation and a willingness to take professional recommendations into account. However, constructive interaction is only possible if civil society organizations move from criticism to professional dialogue with specific proposals.
The agency continues to modernize the Register on its own, focusing on international standards. The draft technical specifications are ready, but the National Agency remains open to professional cooperation.
ARMA emphasizes that criticism without specifics will not help improve the system. We hope that those who have expressed comments on the work of the Register will take advantage of the opportunity and submit their proposals by June 6, as the Agency has extended the deadline for their submission.
