Here's what you helped us achieve in the last week
Dear Kyiv Independent community members,
Thank you for your support.
We'd like to give a warm welcome to our 35 new members this week. We wouldn't be here without you!
Here are some highlights from the Kyiv Independent over the last week:
The Kyiv Independent hosted a discussion at this year's International Journalism Festival in Perugia, Italy. Pictured above are members of the team, leading the discussion titled "The Kyiv Independent: a Ukrainian media startup’s unprecedented success during war" on Thursday, April 20, taken by Diego Figone.
We published an investigation about Estonia's biggest charity dedicated to helping Ukraine. The charity, Glory to Ukraine, is under audit for the suspected misuse of funds by its two Ukrainian partners.
We reported on the nationwide scandal where three teenagers sexually assaulted a 14-year old girl and got an unexpectedly mild sentence. The case reveals the shortcomings in Ukraine's courts to punish such crimes – the perpetrators filmed and posted the assault online, yet as punishment only together paid Hr 240,000 or $6,560 in compensation to the victim.
Episode four of our video podcast "This Week in Ukraine" was released today. Host Anastasiia Lapatina sits down with a reporter from the war crimes investigative unit Danylo Mokryk to discuss Russia's strategy of evil: 80,000 war crimes in Ukraine.
Belarus Weekly looks at the allegedly leaked U.S. intelligence documents, saying that Turkey helps Belarus and Russia evade sanctions by purchasing sanctioned goods and reselling them in Europe.
Our investigation into Ukraine's International Legion was shortlisted for the European Press Prize. Anna Myroniuk and Alexander Khrebet's investigation into alleged misconduct by International Legion's leadership was shortlisted for the The Special Award: Ukraine Reporting.
The Kyiv Independent has also been shortlisted for the Emerging Europe Awards 2023 in the Media Freedom and Responsible Reporting Initiative of the Year category. The winner will be chosen by jury and by public vote, which is open until May 7. Find the nominees here, and cast your ballot here.
Thank you for standing by our side as we bring independent, locally-sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
Comments (6)
Yes, the judiciary is of particular concern. However, judicial reform is incredibly challenging due to judicial independence. The judiciary is independent as part of the separation of powers in an executive, legislative, and judicial system. As a result, to a large extent, judges discipline each other and select from within themselves for promotion. Once corruption is established it is complicated to unwind, even in a stable situation. It is much easier just to let a little corruption slide rather than use all of one's political capital to implement reform. This reform is not something that can wait until after the war. Post-war reform will be a period ripe for corruption as money flows freely and quickly. For better or worse, 'The West' appears to link military aid with Ukraine implementing reform measures to ensure that Ukraine is politically and economically stable in addition to being militarily stable.
I understand that I am a bit obsessed with transparency and anti-corruption roles in Ukraine. There is a very interesting article at https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/what-ukraine-must-do-fight-corruption-lessons-around-world . The unfortunate acronym 'rusi' stands for The Royal United Services Institute, a well-respected think tank in the United Kingdom. A key takeaway is, "Investing in efforts to bolster collective action on corruption will be more effective than formal institutional measures or top-down political drives alone." As foreign readers and often donors, we have a crucial role in fostering anti-corruption initiatives in Ukraine.
Special concern for the biased and corrupt judiciary. Once this war is over I believe Zelensky and his cabinet will ‘clean up’ that institution. You clean up the oligarchs and you clean up the judiciary.
I commend The Kyiv Independent for the courage to publish articles on corruption in the charity sector and shortcomings in the criminal justice system. It can be very tempting to self-sensor negative news, not to provide a source for enemy propaganda to amplify. In both the short and long term, Ukraine will benefit from increased transparency, reducing corruption rather than just covering it up.
Thank you for you incredibly hardwork ❤️❤️❤️
Outstanding work, fantastic achievements. BRAVO to everyone at The Kyiv Independent.