Orange Circle President Co-Authors Major Corruption Report

November 1, 2007

Adrian Karatnycky, President of the Orange Circle, who is also a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council of the United States (ACUS) became the co-author of the report on Corruption, Democracy, and Investment in Ukraine. The report finds that corruption permeates a significant part of Ukrainian politics, business, and society and has turned into a kind of a "culture of corruption". Thus, the problem is taking on enormous dimensions and has become a threat to the country's democratic future and economic prosperity.

The report task force thinks that how Ukraine will be able to deal with the issue of corruption following the recent elections is a critical factor to the country's political and economic health. The report concludes that only a significant reduction in the levels of corruption will enable Ukraine to provide the sort of investment climate that would generate large and consistent flows of foreign capital and prepare the country for its stated ambition of drawing closer to the European Union.

Authors underscore that Ukraine is a country "critical to Europe's future due both to its size and geographical position", but in order to realize its potential, its leaders should make anti-corruption efforts a leading priority, especially in the wake of recent elections. Only this will ensure Ukraine's long-term economic and political health.

The Atlantic Council of the United States is a non-partisan network and think tank, which aims to stimulate dialogue and discussion about critical international issues with a view to enriching public debate and promoting consensus on appropriate responses in the Administration, the Congress, the corporate and non-profit sectors, and the media in the United States and among leaders in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

The report can be downloaded from the ACUS website as a PDF file:
Corruption, Democracy, and Investment in Ukraine