“Deoligarchisation” in Ukraine
Promising Visions, Murky Realities
SWP Comment 2016/C 51, 02.12.2016, 8 Pages Research AreasPromising Visions, Murky Realities
SWP Comment 2016/C 51, 02.12.2016, 8 Pages Research AreasIn 2015, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced a process of “deoligarchisation”. Not much has happened so far. Some of the oligarchs’ profit sources have run dry in the field of public procurement. Certain efforts have been made to curb the influence of oligarchs with respect to media legislation and financing political parties. However, these reforms have not yet been implemented effectively. In addition, measures in sectors that are fundamentally important to the oligarchs (the energy sector, in particular) have been extremely contradictory. As a result, the oligarchic system persists and is being supported and consolidated by the ruling elite. Unless external actors increase their influence, Ukraine is unlikely to free itself from the mire of corruption, despite its many reform endeavours.