Azarov nominated as Prime Minister again by the President

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It seems the Ukrainian President has nominated Mykola Azarov has been nominated for the post Prime Minister again, before the President disappears into the sunset on a visit to India. Not much to say about that nomination really, other than it has put to bed rumours of other candidates. Azarov may be a grey, uninspiring, […]

EU/Ukraine Association Agreement

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I am not really in the mood for writing much today - and it’s Sunday! But as it is Sunday, here is the entire EU-Ukraine-Association-Agreement-ENG, all 906 pages of it, for your weekend reading. Lots of interesting content in that and obviously a framework for those nations yet to enter into such negotiations to be […]

Securities and derivatives law changes - Ukraine

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Whilst all headlines will be on the action of the last RADA session passing the 2013 budget, 234 MPs also supported Law 11285 which relates to securities and derivatives - something that won’t make the headlines. Law 11285 introduces a specific tax on transactions with securities and derivatives, a 0% rate on stock exchange transactions, […]

A day of annual global reports - Ukraine

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I will immediately steer clear of the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index 2012, which unsurprisingly ranks Ukraine at 144th and perceived as corrupt, simply because that will grab the mainstream headlines.  Ukraine still perceived as corrupt shocker - blah blah blah - not news at all! Instead I will bring to your attention the 2012 […]

A best guess or pie in the sky? Ukrainian budget 2013

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Although I studied economics as part of a degree in Business Management and Finance many moons ago, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that it was not exactly the most interesting of subjects, and one in which I had to motivate myself to maintain a respectable overall end grade. The fact it […]

Diving centre for the disabled - Odessa

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Tempted as I am to speculate on the formation of the new Cabinet of Ministers in the forthcoming new parliament, the current Cabinet resigning en masse yesterday as required by law, thus allowing for a new Cabinet and reshuffle - I won’t - yet. Instead I will ease my way back into writing here with […]

Anti-Corruption laws - Ukraine (It’s not the laws but ineffective implementation)

global integrity

One of the (United-ish) opposition platforms for their next term in opposition has been stated as creating more anti-corruption laws as outlined here. As I wrote only a few days ago, Ukraine does not need more anti-corruption laws.  It has plenty. In fact, not only does Ukraine have plenty of anti-corruption laws, the laws it has […]

Ukrainian OSCE Chairmanship

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Ukraine officially takes over the chairmanship of OSCE on 6/7th December 2012 at the OSCE ministerial council meeting in Dublin, when Ireland hands over, and will thus chair OSCE through 2013. That on the back of some robust criticism by OSCE of the recent Ukrainian parliamentary elections - their final and authoritative report on said […]

The Opposition - Looking forward

crystal ball

So the opposition parties in Ukraine have accepted the election results as called by the CEC, with the exception of 5 seats that are to be re-run.  One presumes that having done so, the call for the elections to “represent the genuine will of the Ukrainian voters” as per the EU press statement of two […]

No I didn’t forget and never would I!

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