‘Deoligarchisation’ in Ukraine: Promising Visions, Murky Realities

Abstract:

In 2015, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced a process of 'deoligarchisation'. Not much has happened so far. Some of the oligarchs’ profit sources have run dry in the field of public procurement. Certain efforts have been made to curb the in­fluence of oligarchs with respect to media legislation and financing political parties. However, these reforms have not yet been implemented effectively.

In addition, meas­ures in sectors that are fundamentally important to the oligarchs (the energy sector, in particular) have been extremely contradictory. As a result, the oligarchic system per­sists and is being supported and consolidated by the ruling elite. Unless external actors increase their influence, Ukraine is unlikely to free itself from the mire of corruption, despite its many reform endeavours.