In Blow to Ukraine’s Reform Hopes, Top Official Resigns, Citing Corruption

The Washington Post ^ | February 4, 2015 | Michael Birnbaum

[marvel5]

In a blow to hopes that Ukraine will be able to overcome a decades-long struggle with corruption and mismanagement, the country’s Western-trained economy minister resigned Wednesday, saying he had been unable to beat back corruption.

Economy Minister Aivaras Abromavicius said that he had come under pressure from senior allies of the country’s president to make patronage appointments in state-owned companies and to appoint unqualified deputies who would have overseen the most lucrative industries in Ukraine.

The resignation fed growing concerns from Ukraine’s allies that the country remains stuck in unscrupulous dealmaking almost two years after pro-Western protesters overthrew President Viktor Yanukovych, whom they condemned as corrupt.

“We learned to manage the resistance of the old system, but it turned out that some of the new people around are even worse than the old ones,” Abromavicius told reporters in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev on Wednesday. “Neither I nor my team have any desire to be a cover for open corruption, or to be a marionette of those who want to establish control over state money. I do not want to go to Davos and talk about our successes, while at the same time deals are being concluded behind my back in the interests of certain people.”

[buckalfa]

Makes one wonder if the Ukraine is worthy of American support. I have yet to be able to identify any good guys in the whole Ukrainian-Russian situation.

[McGruff]

Just Google Ukraine corruption. Even Joe Biden admits it’s corrupt.

[DoughtyOne]