Klymenko proposed establishing an independent expert body to handle high-level corruption cases
Oleksandr Klymenko, head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, proposed establishing a separate, independent expert institution to handle criminal proceedings involving high-level corruption. According to him, the current system of forensic examinations creates risks of pressure on experts, delays in investigations, and conflicting conclusions.
In a column for “Ukrainska Pravda,” Klymenko reported that an expert in the “Dynasty” case was advised to withdraw from the proceedings, and later, through third parties, received threats regarding the mobilization of her relatives and the revocation of her right to practice her profession. NABU and the SAPO are investigating these circumstances as part of a criminal proceeding. One of the lines of inquiry is the possible involvement of certain SBU employees in exerting pressure.
The head of the SAP also cited examples of prolonged expert examinations. In the case involving the procurement of altimeters for military aircraft, computer-technical expert examinations, according to him, lasted from two and a half to three and a half years. In another case, a state agency took more than 16 months to complete eight appraisal and construction expert examinations ordered in December 2024. Such delays, according to Klymenko, can lead to the expiration of the statute of limitations and the closure of cases without compensation for damages.
Among other problems, he cited conflicting conclusions from a single expert agency regarding the same properties. Specifically, in the case involving the illegal seizure of land near Fastiv, the value of the same plot as of a single date was initially estimated at 1.5 million UAH in one report and later at 219,000 UAH in another.
Klymenko proposes enshrining the independence of the new specialized agency in law, establishing a supervisory board with international participation for it, and holding an open competition to select its head. In his view, experts must be provided with competitive compensation, protection against unfounded persecution, modern equipment, and access to professional databases. According to his proposal, both the prosecution and defense attorneys should have the right to appeal to such an institution.
Ensuring that anti-corruption agencies have access to high-quality forensic expert analyses is one of the conditions for Ukraine to receive 124 million euros under the updated Ukraine Facility program. Ukraine has committed to fulfilling this condition by the end of 2026.
