«Make Russia Small Again»: Ukraine's Radical Transparency & Anti-Corruption Drive

Ukrainapodden delves into Ukraine's relentless battle against corruption with guests Bohdana Hrytsiv from People with Cardboards and Valeriia Radchenko from the Anti-Corruption Action Center. This powerful episode explores how Ukrainian civil society stands as the crucial "first and last line of defense" for democracy and reform during wartime.
This episode was recorded November 6th, before Operation Midas was known by the public.

Discover why Norway and other international partners should link aid to anti-corruption preconditions, ensuring Ukraine's future economic prosperity and democratic development. The guests detail the summer's massive protests in Kyiv, where young Ukrainians bravely defended independent anti-corruption agencies like NABU and SAPO from government overreach, proving that citizen action remains potent even without elections.

Learn about Ukraine's remarkable progress since the 2014 Revolution of Dignity, establishing robust anti-corruption infrastructure and leading the world in digitalization and open data initiatives like Prozorro. They tackle the "transparency paradox"—how increased reporting of corruption cases actually signifies effective enforcement, challenging Russia's disinformation tactics that weaponize corruption. This conversation is essential for anyone interested in Ukraine, security policy, international politics, and the future of democracy.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: Host Jørn Sund-Henriksen introduces guests and episode focus on Ukraine's anti-corruption fight.
01:25 – Why Norway should set preconditions for aid to Ukraine.
03:50 – Civil society: The first and last line of defense against corruption.
05:10 – The July protests: Defending NABU and SAPO independence.
08:30 – Youth activism: Why a new generation is fighting for democratic values, featuring insights from Bohdana Hrytsiv.
11:45 – Ukraine's anti-corruption progress since 2014: Robust infrastructure and digitalization, as explained by Valeriia Radchenko.
14:20 – Open data and transparency: How Ukraine became a global leader.
18:00 – The "transparency paradox": More reports mean stronger fight, not more corruption.
21:15 – Ukraine's unique path: EU accession and avoiding Russia's orbit.
24:50 – A message to Norway and the younger generation: Invest, engage, and stand up for what's right.

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