AntAC criticised after information about millions in expenses

AntAC at centre of scandal over claims of spending $1 million during war

A scandal erupted in the public space around Anti-Corruption Action Centre (CPC) after it announced the use of grant funds of about $1 million in 2024. The criticism comes on the back of public comments made by the head of the organisation on the social security of civil servants and the military.

Details of the case

Former prosecutor of the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office Stanislav Bronevytskyi claimed that the «anti-corruption» organisation led by Daria Kaleniuk, received a grant of about $1 million, which, according to him, was spent on the internal needs of the activists.

At the same time, Kaleniuk publicly criticised the decision to provide official housing for prosecutors, noting that, in her opinion, the first priority for housing is for members of the Armed Forces.

Commenting on the situation, Bronevytskyi stressed that, in his opinion, the issue of financial support for the army was not a priority for the organisation when receiving and using grant funds. He described the activists« position as an example of »selective sensitivity".

Separately, the information space mentions that Kaleniuk had previously spoken harshly about a Ukrainian volunteer soldier Kirill Marusov, This caused a negative reaction from part of the military community.

The name of the head of the AntAC also appears in the publications Vitaly Shabunin. According to the State Bureau of Investigation, one of the episodes of the case concerning possible abuses during military service has already been referred to court, while the pre-trial investigation in the other episodes is ongoing.

Context.

The use of grant funds by civil society organisations remains a sensitive issue for Ukrainian society in the context of a full-scale war, economic pressure and a high level of public attention to funding transparency.

Experts note that public conflicts between civil society representatives and former officials can affect the credibility of civil society institutions, especially at a time when support for the Armed Forces, public finances and international assistance are in the focus of public debate.