Odesa Appoints Anti-Corruption Chief Without Open Competition: Details on the Appointee.

Odesa Appoints Anti-Corruption Chief Without Open Competition: Details on the Appointee

According to Novyny.live: On February 2, Olena Moskalenko was appointed head of the Odesa City Council's Department for Corruption Prevention without a competitive selection process. The decision was signed by acting Odesa mayor, Ihor Koval. This appointment to a key oversight role has raised questions about transparency in public administration. Prior to this role, Moskalenko served as a chief state inspector in the Odesa regional tax service.

Olena Moskalenko's Asset Declaration

According to her official declaration, Moskalenko owns the following assets:

• A 44.3 m² apartment purchased in 2014 for 400,000 hryvnias;
• A second apartment of 71.1 m², acquired in 2025 for over 1.9 million hryvnias;
• A land plot of nearly 3.5 hectares.

Her declared vehicles include:

• A 2006 Toyota RAV4 valued at 77,500 hryvnias;
• A 2025 BYD YUAN UP electric vehicle valued at 795,000 hryvnias.

Moskalenko's salary from the tax service in 2025 was 510,000 hryvnias, with an additional pension of 78,200 hryvnias. Other declared assets include a non-monetary gift valued at over 1.29 million hryvnias and rental income of 20,800 hryvnias. Her financial assets consist of $40,000 in cash, over 19,000 hryvnias in accounts at Oschadbank, and 1,560 hryvnias in cash.

The Department for Corruption Prevention is responsible for developing and monitoring anti-corruption measures within the city council's executive bodies. The decision to bypass a competitive hiring process for this sensitive position has sparked public debate concerning the transparency and openness of personnel selection in Ukraine's ongoing anti-corruption efforts.

The appointment has fueled broader discussions about the critical need for clear and transparent procedures in public sector hiring, especially for roles central to combating corruption. Observers note that circumventing standard competitive practices can undermine public trust in the very institutions tasked with ensuring integrity.