Given the
ever-increasing "cracks" in Kiev's relations with the West, Ukraine
is now on the verge of becoming a failed state, according to an article by
BloombergView columnist Leonid Bershidsky.
The
past few months have seen a further deterioration in ties
between Kiev and the West, which may steepen Ukraine's slide
towards becoming a failed nation, BloombergView columnist Leonid
Bershidsky writes.
"Rather than the democratic hope it might have
become after last year's 'Revolution of Dignity,' Ukraine now looks
like just another incompetent and corrupt post-Soviet regime,"
Bershidsky said.
According to him, the political deadlock shows no
sign of abating in Ukraine, with Prime Minister Areseniy
Yatsenyuk expected to step down in December.
Bershidsky also cited unsuccessful attempts "at
change by a new generation of bureaucrats", which have led
to the current situation, where the Ukrainian economy "remains
unreformed."
"Taxes are oppressive but widely evaded, the
shadow economy is growing and the regulatory climate for business has
barely improved," he said.
Additionally, Bershidsky mentioned the Ukrainian
authorities' reluctance to deal with the country's "incredibly
corrupt justice system."
He quoted Christof Heyns, the United Nations special
rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions,
as saying that Ukraine lives in an "accountability
vacuum."
In particular, Heyns expressed regret about the
Ukrainian authorities' unwillingness to investigate the death of more
than 100 people on the streets of central Kiev in the final
days of the Maidan coup and of 48 pro-Russian protesters in a
burning building in Odessa in May 2014.
The Ukrainian Security Service "seems to be
above the law," according to Heinz, who referred to the
recent arrest of Gennady Korban, a supporter of Ukrainian oligarch
Igor Kolomoisky, who has in turn repeatedly stood against the
consolidation of power by Poroshenko.
Addressing corruption in Ukraine, Bershidsky added
that "Poroshenko's and Yatsenyuk's close allies are routinely named
in connection with corrupt schemes involving Ukraine's customs
service and state energy companies."
Despite a "crack" in ties, Washington is
"highly visible in the Ukrainian political process," Bershidsky
said, adding that all the top level government nominations and dismissals are
reportedly endorsed by US Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt and even US Vice
President Joe Biden.
However, US efforts at the external management
of Ukraine have largely failed, because "the grip of oligarchs
and a corrupt bureaucracy on what's left of the Ukrainian economy has
proven too strong, the schemes too entrenched," according
to Bershidsky.
He concluded by warning of tougher times ahead
in Ukraine, where "post-Soviet practices of fraud, bribery and
intimidation have not been overcome."
"But unless the current political elite finds it
in itself to clean up — a highly unlikely turn
of events — Ukraine's history of violent regime change is probably
not over yet," he said.
Source: Sputnik News 08-11-2015
