«This is a requirement from our partners», — Sienkevych urged Council members «simply to adopt» the Integrity Plan
- Alina Kvitko
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12:51, 26 March, 2026
The Mayor of Mykolaiv has called on councillors to support the Integrity Plan. Photo: NikVesti archiveMykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych called on councillors to support the draft resolution on the city’s Integrity Plan, emphasising that this is a key condition set by international partners who are investing resources in the community’s recovery.
The mayor spoke about this before the meeting, communicating with councillors via video link prior to the start of the broadcast of the Mykolaiv City Council session, reports a NikVesti correspondent.
During the informal discussion, the mayor expressed his frustration that the relevant committees were delaying consideration of the document. Oleksandr Sienkevych emphasised that the Integrity Plan is a direct requirement of the partners funding critical projects in Mykolaiv.
«That is why we believe you simply must adopt it. You must understand: this whole affair is not about Sienkevch travelling by train, falling from the second bunk, hitting his head on the table and deciding to draft an Integrity Plan. It is a requirement from our partners. Our partners have invested significant resources this year. The European Anti-Corruption Initiative is closely monitoring how this issue will be both adopted and implemented. And here we are, sitting and saying: ‘Oh come on, corruption can’t be overcome.’ Great! Well, let’s at least put our intentions to tackle it down on paper,» the mayor remarked.
The mayor also chided the councillors, as they should be the ones initiating measures to limit corruption risks, not the other way round.
«It’s a paradox: you’re the ones who should be setting me new tasks and limiting my scope for any ‘shady dealings’. Instead, I’m asking you: ‘Please, adopt this decision.’ Friends, this isn’t funny anymore — it’s just plain stupid,» he added.
The mayor warned that if the session continues to sabotage the adoption of the document due to a lack of quorum in the committees or a lack of support in the vote, he will be forced to approve the Integrity Plan by a decision of the executive committee.
«In any case, I will prepare a draft decision on the Integrity Plan. If it is not adopted at the session, I have only one option — to adopt it via the executive committee. I will state publicly that the session did not adopt the plan because the relevant committee was unable to convene due to a lack of quorum. It was considered by the Budget Committee, but they did not support it. Nothing specific was said — only that ‘it is not the right time’ and ‘corruption cannot be overcome», concluded Oleksandr Sienkevych.
Councillor Fedir Panchenko added that the relevant proposals for the document had been submitted by the Budget Committee six months ago. The Mayor confirmed that all logical amendments from councillors and the Public Council had already been incorporated into the current version of the document.
«The acting director of the Anti-Corruption Department tried to take into account all the logical proposals put forward: both those submitted by councillors and those proposed by our Public Council for the Integrity Plan. All in all, if we fail on this issue, it will look very bad. Do you understand? On the one hand, as an executive body, we must implement it, and you, as councillors, must oversee us and demand its implementation. But it turns out that we cannot adopt it. Therefore, if that is the case, we will adopt it at the executive committee and proceed with its implementation,» said Oleksandr Sienkevych.
Integrity Plan
In June 2024, a working group was set up in Mykolaiv to develop the City Council’s ‘Integrity Plan ’. It provides for an assessment of six key areas: procurement, land assets, infrastructure, local self-government, ethics and anti-corruption.
Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych emphasised that the fight against corruption requires systemic changes, not just personnel decisions. As reported by NikVesti, the Integrity Plan aims to reduce the risks of favouritism and corruption among councillors and officials, particularly in matters relating to the management of municipal property.
In 2025, during the hearing of the draft decision at the Committee on Legal Affairs, the head of the Anti-Corruption Department, Vitalii Yaroshenko, stated that the necessary public consultations had allegedly already taken place in May. However, the composition of the group — comprising only 10 city hall officials, with no representatives from the public or the media — drew criticism.
According to recommendations from the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative (EUACI) and the UNDP, independent experts, the media and civil society organisations should be involved in drafting such documents to ensure transparency and accountability.
Councillors refused to adopt the Plan without proper discussion and announced that they would accept comments and proposals on the document.
The Public and Expert Council of the City Council’s Executive Committee also held an alternative discussion.
The media outlet NikVesti proposed its own amendments to the Plan for 2025–2027. The outlet’s editor-in-chief, Oleh Dereniuha, explained that the editorial team had proposed enshrining two key principles:
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Transparency of remote meetings — all participants in online or remote meetings of the council, executive committee or advisory bodies must have their cameras switched on to ensure that decisions are made by real people, not just ‘ticks’ on an attendance list.
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Physical access for journalists to the city council — to provide permanent, personalised access cards for representatives of registered media outlets to ensure unhindered access to government premises and public events, as stipulated by the Law “On Information”.
Earlier, the European Union’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Mathernova, stated that she considers the city of Mykolaiv to be «integrity-driven» and emphasised that the regional and city leadership is creating favourable conditions for attracting partners.
As of December 2025, following almost six months of discussion of the Integrity Plan, the Department of Anti-Corruption Policy had not responded to the proposals put forward by MPs and experts.