The ILI has analysed the draft laws that the Verkhovna Rada submitted for the first and second reading this week

Based on the results of anti-corruption expertise, we have identified the top 3 acts that contain corruption risks. In a few days, they may become laws that will affect each of us.

Draft Law No. 6273, which shadows the procurement of Naftogaz

The draft law effectively removes the procurement of the GTS Operator of Ukraine and Naftogaz of Ukraine from open tenders. This means that no auction will be held, no tender documentation will be created and published, and the timeframe for the procurement will be minimal and may, under certain conditions, be as short as 6-11 days.

This can lead to inefficient spending of budget funds, reduced savings and non-transparent procurement.

Read the full text of the opinion here.

Draft Law 5719, which threatens to monopolise the cigarette market

Initially, the draft law provided for amendments to the Budget Code. However, an amendment was added to it, which was rejected during the adoption of the resource draft law No. 5600. And now, thanks to this amendment, the authority to control tobacco products is granted to manufacturers.

This means that tobacco manufacturers can control their customers. And buyers of wholesale products will be forced to provide product traceability mechanisms at their own expense, provide all information about their activities (even those containing trade secrets), and in case of refusal, they will simply be stopped from supplying goods.

Only big business can afford all this. The result is an even greater monopolisation of the tobacco market.

Read the full text of the opinion here.

Draft law No. 5202, which creates the possibility of non-transparent and non-smoking appropriation of state property

The draft law proposes to regulate the activities of water user organisations. However, the draft law provides unjustified privileges for such organisations.

In particular, the document allows for free appropriation of state and municipal property. It also reduces the transparency and competitiveness of the transfer of ownership of such property and creates grounds for its alienation.