In a recent interview on Hromadske Radio’s podcast «Ukraine Calling,» Roman Waschuk, the Business Ombudsman in Ukraine, provided insights into the evolving landscape of his office since his last interview in September 2022. Notably, he discussed the mechanisms for handling complaints, emphasizing the importance of discerning honest concerns from attempts to exploit the system.
Waschuk highlighted the abnormal normalization of business conditions over the past year, attributing some changes to the ongoing war situation and others to pre-February 2022 issues in the interaction between Ukrainian state entities and businesses.
«There’s been abnormal normalization of business conditions. People got used to the new normal. There are elements of it that are genuinely new because of the full-scale or large-scale war situation, but others are unfortunate echoes of pre-February 2022 problems in the way Ukrainian state and municipalities interact with business», — he stated
Despite these challenges, the Business Ombudsman’s Office has adapted to the new situation.
«Our team is fully engaged, both in person or through Zoom visits to the regions. We are on top of things, we are keeping to our appointed deadlines as for how long it takes to process complaints. We have a ten-day limit for preliminary assessment, and we are now at a little more than seven days», — according to Waschuk
Waschuk outlined a unique governance mechanism for the Business Ombudsman’s Office, forming a triangle of accountability.
«This allows me to draw a triangle, because it is not a direct reporting relationship. We are equidistant, with independence when it comes to the state. We have a governance mechanism that has three partners, or three points in the triangle», — he explained
This structure ensures independence from direct reporting relationships with the state. Waschuk expressed the office’s commitment to objectivity by positioning itself in the middle of this triangle. He acknowledged the need to scrutinize complaints thoroughly to ensure their legitimacy.
«There are some who are trying to exploit us and use us as a front for what are essentially dishonest deals, so we don’t take those», — he emphasized.
As Business Ombudsman, Roman Waschuk provided a comprehensive overview of the office’s adaptation to evolving business conditions and challenges. The interview sheds light on the importance of maintaining objectivity, the office’s commitment to meeting deadlines, and its vigilance against potential exploitation. The governance structure, with its triangular accountability, reflects a balanced approach to addressing complaints and fostering a fair business environment in Ukraine.
You can listen to the full podcast — Roman Washchuk: «Abnormal normalization of business conditions in Ukraine»