The delegation of the Special Investigation Service (STT) - director Linas Pernavas, first deputy director Jovitas Raškevičius and head of the Anti-corruption Education Department Benas Aldakauskas – visited Ukraine this week and participated in meetings with representatives of Ukrainian anti-corruption institutions. Agreements to continue cooperation between institutions were renewed, and a new cooperation agreement was signed.
During the visit, STT representatives met with the heads of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), the National Corruption Prevention Agency (NACP), and the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) of Ukraine and their teams. Back in 2016, a cooperation agreement was signed with the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, and during this visit, a cooperation agreement was also signed with the National Corruption Prevention Agency, through which both institutions agreed to exchange information and best practices in the field of corruption prevention.
"Despite the challenges of the war, it is good to know that Ukrainian institutions continue their activities in the field of fighting corruption, and the sharing of good practices on how to fight corruption is especially relevant. Corruption is one of the threats to national security. It cannot be pushed aside when the existential foundations of the state are threatened," said STT director Linas Pernavas. „We stand ready to fully support Ukraine on its rebuilding efforts and its way to the European Union, in particular, in the area of eradicating corruption“.
"Lithuania is our valued partner not only in the fight against aggressor, but also in working together in detecting and investigating corruption, sharing information and best practices. Combatting corruption is one of the major objectives on our way to the EU", said Semen Kryvonos, Head of Ukraine's NABU.
STT and NABU representatives
The STT delegation also met with the Lithuanian ambassador to Ukraine, Valdemaras Sarapinas, with whom they discussed the possible further role of the STT and other Lithuanian institutions in rebuilding efforts and assisting fighting corruption in Ukraine.
After the meetings in Ukraine, the STT delegation also met with the heads of the Polish Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) Andrzej Strozny and deputy head Marcin Stec. CBA is a long-standing partner of the Special Investigation Service and also a member of the EPAC/EACN network. During the meeting in Warsaw, the importance of stable and long-term regional cooperation in creating a sustainable anti-corruption environment was discussed. In light of this week's meetings between STT and representatives of Ukrainian anti-corruption institutions, as well as the earlier visit of Polish representatives to Ukraine, STT and CBA leaders, as strategic partners of NABU, shared insights on the crucial role of continuous mutual cooperation in preventing corruption in Ukraine during war and peacetime.
"I am glad that the cooperation of the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau and Special Investigation Service is being developed as it reflects in building a strong anti-corruption community in Europe. Your today's presence in Warsaw is an invaluable proof of our friendship and trust" - said Andrzej Strozny, Head of the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau.
Meeting with the Head of CBA
