The delegation of the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA), headed by the Head of ARMA, Olena Duma, has started a working visit to the Republic of Poland. The first meeting was with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Poland Vasyl Bodnar.

The delegation also includes Deputy Head of ARMA Grigol Katamadze, Advisor to the Head of ARMA Andrii Pozniak and Chief Specialist of the Department of Coordination and International Technical Assistance Diana Bondarchuk.

During the meeting, the Head of ARMA briefed the Ambassador on the latest results of the National Agency's work, in particular in the field of asset recovery abroad.

“At the request of law enforcement agencies, ARMA has the ability to trace assets around the world, including in Poland. Currently, we have a situation where, according to our experts, assets worth about EUR 100 billion have been illegally withdrawn from Ukraine since independence. Today, ARMA is actively strengthening its cooperation with law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies around the world to return these funds and ensure that they work for Ukraine's economy and defense capabilities,” said Olena Duma.  

The Head of ARMA added that as part of the strategy to recover the illegally withdrawn funds, ARMA plans to hold a series of meetings in Poland with representatives of local law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies.

During the meeting with the Ambassador, it was agreed to actively cooperate on the return of Ukrainian seized assets located in the Republic of Poland. “The Embassy is ready to facilitate the return of illegally withdrawn funds back to Ukraine as much as possible, especially if these funds can go directly to the Defense Forces of Ukraine,” said Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Poland Vasyl Bodnar.

During the visit, Olena Duma is also scheduled to participate and deliver a speech at the international conference “Asset Declarations - Unification, Digitalization, Control” organized by the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau of the Republic of Poland and a series of meetings with representatives of anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies of the European Union.