Ukraine's Zelenskiy publishes income as part of transparency drive

(Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy publicly disclosed his income over a period of two years as part of an effort to promote transparency and eliminate widespread corruption. In a statement on the presidential website, Zelenskiy mentioned that his income had decreased in 2021 and further in 2022, particularly after Russia invaded Ukraine at the end of February. This was the first time that Zelenskiy revealed his income to the public.

For the year 2021, which was before the invasion, Zelenskiy and his family reported an income of 10.8 million hryvnias ($286,168), a decrease of 12 million hryvnias from the previous year. The 2021 figure included income from the sale of $142,000 of government bonds.

The Zelenskiy family’s income declined even further in 2022, falling to 3.7 million hryvnias, as he earned less rental income from real estate he owned due to the outbreak of the war.

Zelenskiy has urged public officials to disclose their incomes as part of efforts to increase transparency and eradicate corruption, as Ukraine aims to meet the strict requirements for its bid to join the European Union. Western allies and international bodies like the International Monetary Fund have also sought assurances on efforts to eliminate corruption, while providing weaponry and financial assistance to Ukraine. Ukraine’s National Agency on Corruption Prevention, which is one of several bodies dedicated to exposing and eliminating graft, recently reopened a register on declared income for public scrutiny.

($1 = 37.7400 hryvnias)

(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Oleksandr Kozhukhar; Editing by Matthew Lewis)