“A well-coordinated and organized response that sufficiently empowers state institutions to be free from corruption — in partnership with civil society and the international community — is essential when trying to increase security and public safety. This statement best describes Ukraine’s strategy for combating organized crime.

The fight against organized crime is one of the country’s major challenges. Organized crime violates the fundamental values of civil society; it impedes economic, social, cultural and political development, contradicts the principles of the rule of law and threatens the security of the country and region. The implementation of a correct government policy ensures the formation of a democratic, social and legal state. The implemented reforms and accompanying legal and institutional changes define the challenges and needs on a national level, which is a prerequisite for a country’s continued development...”

Excerpt from Andrii Rudyi, “Confronting the Scourge Head-On,” per Concordiam: Journal of European Security Defense Issues  9, No. 4, 2019: 38-41.

Maj. Andrii Rudyi is an organized crime and corruption analyst in the Lviv office of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU). He has degrees in information security and the law. He began his SSU career as a junior lieutenant and served as an assistant to the service’s anti-terrorism chief. He graduated in 2017 from the Marshall Center’s Countering Transnational Organized Crime Course.

This article reflects the views of the author and are not necessarily the official policy of the United States, Germany, or any other governments.