"More in-depth study is necessary." The head of ARMA urges anti-corruption experts to refrain from criticizing her work.
The head of the Asset Recovery and Management Agency, Elena Duma, attempted to justify the delays in selecting managers for seized assets and requested anti-corruption experts from Transparency International Ukraine not to criticize her work and ARMA, reports UNN.
Details
In her Telegram channel, Elena Duma complained about the criticism from TI Ukraine experts regarding ARMA's prolonged process of selecting managers for the assets. However, instead of providing explanations for the delays, she indicated that the experts supposedly lack an understanding of the situation and suggested they contact ARMA directly for clarifications. In her view, international experts "do not study the cases in sufficient detail," which leads to criticism of the agency.
Furthermore, the head of ARMA lamented that the agency had received no international technical assistance for supporting its activities over the past year.
However, Elena Duma's justifications appear to be yet another attempt to shift responsibility onto other organizations and evade criticism for the prolonged processes and low efficiency in asset management. This issue becomes even more pressing in light of the significant resources the government allocates to support ARMA's activities and public expectations for effective management of seized assets.
Recall
Transparency International Ukraine recently criticized ARMA in its report for an incomplete and flawed registry of seized property. Anti-corruption experts recommended the agency improve its database.
Moreover, TI Ukraine regularly criticizes ARMA for its low efficiency in selecting managers for assets.
Overall, ARMA is frequently criticized for only taking action under the pressure of public scrutiny and media exposure during Elena Duma's leadership. Experts believe that potential corruption motives are one of the main reasons for such actions. Specifically, security expert Sergey Shabot stated that the Asset Recovery and Management Agency is a tool for "corruption and embezzlement."
Additionally, doubts have been raised about the political independence of ARMA's leadership. Recently, it became known about possible behind-the-scenes agreements occurring at ARMA under Elena Duma's leadership. According to informed sources from UNN, a close associate of former Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Viktor Yanukovych, Andrei Portnov—lawyer and ex-MP Valeriy Pisarenko—regularly visits ARMA's central office in Kyiv for personal meetings with Elena Duma. His visits allegedly aim to discuss the transfer of significant seized assets in favor of certain influential individuals, particularly Yulia Tymoshenko. Among such assets is the capital's shopping mall "Gulliver."
Immediately after the publication of this material, ARMA hastily distanced itself from these visits. They claimed that there is no record of Valeriy Pisarenko in the visitor log, and Elena Duma stated she is "not acquainted" with the former MP.
However, they forgot to mention that their main office can also be accessed through four additional "back" entrances and can be entered through a window via two fire escapes, where there are no visitor logs or security.
In general, statements about the opaque and ineffective work of ARMA and its leader Elena Duma have been made repeatedly. A petition even appeared on the official website of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, calling for Elena Duma's dismissal due to her alleged connections with pro-Russian politicians and ineffective management of seized assets.