On 14 August, the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative (EUACI) hosted a panel to present and discuss the concept of "Planning Before the seizure of Assets" developed by the expert of the EUACI, Andriy Kukharuk. This concept was made in line with the recommendations of Technical Assessment Findings conducted in 2018 by 3 independent asset recovery experts engaged by the EUACI.
The concept includes an analysis of the recommendations of international organizations and particular practices of other countries with regard to pre-seizure planning. In particular, the experience of USA, Canada, Colombia, France and Australia in dealing with seized assets and distribution of roles and responsibilities between all the participants of criminal proceedings was presented.
Representatives and experts of EUACI, ARMA, Ukrainian anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies, the Ministry of Justice and State Fiscal Service took part in the discussion.
According to Andriy Kukharuk, proper pre-seizure planning helps to determine whether it is worth to arrest a particular asset and whether it is necessary to take it from the owner or restrict the right to manage the asset. He made several recommendations on how to implement this tool in Ukraine.
"Pre-seizure planning is not just a pragmatic approach, it is essential for the efficient management of assests, which requires coordination of actions between all stakeholders in the process, including prosecutors, judges and ARMA", said Elena Konceviciute, Senior Anti-Corruption Adviser of the EUACI.
The EUACI provides expert and technical support to Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies. It aims to strengthen the capacity of the anti-corruption institutions and to enhance external oversight over the reform process by the Verkhovna Rada (The Parliament of Ukraine), civil society and the media.