The State Bureau of Investigation and National Anti-Corruption Directorate of Romania signed Memorandum of Understanding

The State Bureau of Investigation of Ukraine and the National Anticorruption Directorate of Romania (Direcţia Naţională Anticorupţie) will strengthen cooperation in detecting and investigating corruption offenses.

The Memorandum was signed on October 6, 2022 in Chernivtsi by Director of the State Bureau of Investigation Oleksii Sukhacho and Chief Prosecutor of the National Anticorruption Directorate of Romania Crin-Nicu Bologa.

The parties plan to develop mutual cooperation through mutual assistance and collaboration in the implementation of investigative, operational and analytical activities in the field of preventing and combating corruption, in particular those committed as part of organized groups or criminal organizations, including in the customs sphere. Cooperation is based on existing channels of international cooperation, as well as exchange of information on improving legislation and practice of exposing and investigating corruption and other corruption-related offenses.

In addition, it is planned to exchange experience through joint participation in conferences and seminars on the activities of both agencies, organized by the two parties.

During the signing ceremony, Oleksii Sukhachov expressed gratitude to the people of Romania and representatives of the state leadership for the continued support of the sovereignty, territorial integrity of Ukraine and assistance in combating the aggression of the russian federation.

"It is easier to resist evil together. We can defend democratic values only by uniting our efforts," he emphasized.

According to him, counteraction to the internal enemy - corruption - is an equally important component of this fight.

"The uncompromising struggle of the National Anticorruption Directorate of Romania against top corruption, the achieved results, as well as the level of public trust inspire us in the development of the State Bureau of Investigation of Ukraine," the SBI Director noted.

In his turn, Crin-Nicu Bologa emphasized that Romania supports the sovereignty of Ukraine and the country's path to the EU.

"Romania has not experienced times of war, but it has experienced times of crisis. During such crises, the level of corruption increases and you will have a major challenge in this context," he noted. Krin-Niku Bologa noted that the SBI will have to fight this negative phenomenon.

"You have a very noble mission - the fight against corruption, given the conditions in which Ukraine is," the Chief Prosecutor of the National Anticorruption Directorate said, adding that cooperation with his agency would also contribute to this process.