ARMA asks NABU to check media reports about competition for asset management

The National Agency for Tracing and Asset Management (ARMA) has filed an application with the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) to conduct a comprehensive verification of the information set forth in the journalistic material of the publication by the Ukrainska Pravda ezine ("DARMA. How the arrested assets are transferred to the control of people associated with Minister Stefanishyna").

"On its own initiative, ARMA has applied to NABU with a request to conduct: a fact-checking of all the circumstances set forth in the journalistic investigation; establishing or not connections between the names mentioned in the material and the manager of KAMparitet, clarifying whether the agency's employees maintain any connections with the persons mentioned in the publication. For this purpose, ARMA sent to NABU all documents of the winner of the competition for a detailed check for possible corruption acts," ARMA said in a statement.

It is noted that ARMA is ready to provide NABU with any additional documents in cases related to this or other managers of the arrested assets.

According to the statement, the company KAMparitet has participated in ARMA competitions before, but not always successfully.

"These facts indicate that ARMA applies the same standards to all participants in the competitions. At the same time, we would like to remind you that there are no legislative restrictions on the same legal entity participating in different competitions," the agency added.

ARMA emphasized that all competitions for the appointment of managers of seized assets are held through the Prozorro electronic procurement system, which ensures transparency of procedures, and in addition, each participant and the stages of the competition are documented.

"The agency closely cooperates with law enforcement agencies and has an internal policy of zero tolerance for corruption. "ARMA acts decisively and without delay in all matters related to possible violations or corruption risks," ARMA added.

As reported, on June 4, the Ukrainska Pravda newspaper published an article stating that ARMA in March of this year identified a company that will manage the Trade Unions Building on Maidan Nezalezhnosti, and according to journalists, this new manager may be related to the family of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration - Minister of Justice of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna. It is also noted that the Trade Unions Building is the fourth valuable asset that the same company has received.

Later, Stefanishyna stated that she was not connected with her ex-husband's activities, complained about information pressure, and also emphasized that she had no conflict interests in ARMA.

In turn, the head of ARMA, Olena Duma, stated that the persons mentioned in the media had no connections with ARMA, as well as with the participants in the competitive procedures for selecting managers of the seized assets.