Ukraine Joins Anti-Corruption Monitoring Group

Council of Europe Secretary-General Terry Davis said in a statement Kyiv's accession to the Group of Countries against Corruption, or GRECO, on 1 January was "an important step" in helping Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko implement his pledge to fight economic crimes.

Davis said the Council of Europe would send a fact-finding mission to Ukraine later this year.

The mission will focus on corruption in public administration, the authorities in charge of investigating and prosecuting corruption crimes, and the immunity from criminal prosecution enjoyed by certain state officials. Other subjects are expected to be discussed as well.

Ukraine this year ranked among the worst countries in Transparency International's annual survey of perceived corruption worldwide.

(Council of Europe statement)