Head of ARMA Olena Duma resigns: the agency is preparing for changes
30 July 10:15
The head of the National Agency for Asset Recovery and Management (ARMA), Olena Duma, has announced her resignation. She said this in a statement released by the agency’s press service, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
“I have written a letter of resignation from the post of the Head of the National Agency for Asset Recovery and Management and ask the Government to satisfy it,” Duma said.
In her letter, published on July 30, she explained that today is a symbolic moment, as the law on strengthening the institutional capacity of the ARMA has entered into force. Thus, a new stage in the agency’s history begins, which, according to Duma, should be led by a different leader.
“My team and I have been working for a long time to achieve a real transformation of the agency, starting it in 2023. The body, which had the most negative reputation and negative efficiency, has finally begun to show results: billions of dollars in revenues to the state budget, transparent mechanisms of work through Prozorro and Prozorro.Sale, maximum openness to the media and society, expanded international cooperation, identification of all assets, opening and beginning of modernization of the Register of Seized Assets,” she emphasized.
According to Duma, one of the last contributions of her team in this position was the transfer of UAH 16 million to the state budget from asset management, including the so-called Medvedchuk pipe.
“Today I will be leaving the ARMA, leaving the last contribution to the state on my last working day: uAH 16 million to the state budget from the management of the Medvedchuk pipe,” she wrote.
The head of ARMA emphasized that the new law paves the way for an independent international audit of the agency, and it is the preparation for this process that requires a change of leadership.
“The international audit of the National Agency is ahead. This is a crucial step to further strengthen ARMA’s work. I signed a statement to ensure that it is conducted independently,” she explained.
Olena Duma also thanked her team and expressed confidence that the next leadership will continue the reforms initiated:
“I started this cadence by building a strong professional team – a driving force for change… My mission here is fulfilled. I hope to see the same and even better results. Glory to Ukraine!”
As a reminder, ARMA is responsible for tracing and managing assets derived from crime and has significantly changed its operating principles over the past two years.
It is not yet known who will temporarily act as the head of the agency.
MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak said that the issue of Duma’s dismissal will be discussed at a Cabinet meeting today. After that, a competition for the new head of the ARMA will be announced.
As a reminder, on February 12, the Verkhovna Rada supported in the first reading the draft law on reforming the Asset Recovery and Management Agency.
On July 27, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the laws on reforming the National Agency of Ukraine for Finding, Tracing and Management of Assets Derived from Corruption and Other Crimes (ARMA) and factoring.
on June 30, 2023, during a meeting, the Cabinet of Ministers appointed Olena Duma as the head of the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA).
Prior to that, from February to October 2021, Duma served as Deputy Head of the Chernihiv Regional State Administration. She was in charge of five departments and coordinated the departments of social protection; culture and tourism; family, youth and sports; urban planning and architecture; coordinated the Child Protection Service of the Chernihiv Regional State Administration, the State Labor Service, the State Geocadastre and the State Archives of the region.
