A new plan to tighten the requirements for the functioning of charitable and public organizations that are financed from abroad is about to be introduced in Ukraine. MP Oleksandr Dubinsky registered the bill addressing this issue in the Verkhovna Rada - “On Amending Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine (regarding the transparency of the activities of public associations with foreign support)”.

According to this document, public associations and charitable organizations receiving foreign funds will have to report in detail the sources of infusions, their purpose, and their application.

Such associations will receive a new status - organizations with foreign support. It will be assigned to every entity that receives 50% or more of its financial support within a year from abroad. This will also apply if the amount of annual foreign financing exceeds the equivalent of € 50 thousand. Every form of financial support will be closely examined:

• Transfer of funds;

• Allocation of property or equipment.

• The provision of international technical or other forms of assistance.

In this case, proceeds from all foreigners (private individuals, non-governmental organizations, state structures, and governments) will be taken into account.

Ukrainian public organizations funded by non-residents will need to go through the appropriate registration and receive status - organizations with foreign support. It should be indicated in their official documents and on the website. Such structures should submit detailed reports on their activities to the Ministry of Justice. According to the bill, it is obliged to compile a list of relevant structures and publish a report on the work of “foreigners” on its official website by April 1 annually. The Ministry of Justice also provides a detailed report to the Verkhovna Rada:

• full name and date of registration of the public organization with foreign support;

• name of the country and international organizations / patrons providing financial assistance;

• management body and the number of members;

• the number of foreign contributions made for the reporting year;

• amount of income received;

• areas in which the funds were used.

This information should also be published on the websites of organizations.

At the end of each year, the leaders of a civil association with foreign support, with their consent, will be tested by polygraph by March 1. They will be asked questions about violations of state interests of Ukraine in the course of their activities.

Individuals who have been heads of organizations with foreign support over the past 5 years, according to the new bill, will be prohibited from working in the civil service, in central and local authorities; as well as in any form of state-owned enterprises - be members of boards, supervisory boards. An exception will be made only for elected posts and, in particular, for members of the parliament.

The purpose of the bill is to increase awareness of taxpayers and society as a whole regarding the sources of funding for public organizations in Ukraine. The protection of the national interests of the country must be a priority.

Andrey Pshenichny for the site dubinsky.pro