The National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine (NALU) announced the establishment of an anti-corruption ombudsman within its structure, stating its intention to serve as a model for transparent regulation of the lobbying profession and calling on the National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NAZK) to engage in an open dialogue regarding the monitoring of lobbyists’ activities.

Oleksiy Shevchuk, Chairman of the Board of the National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine, announced that the Association is establishing the position of anti-corruption officer in accordance with European approaches to transparency and requirements adopted following the NALU’s inclusion in the European Parliament’s Transparency Register.

“The National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine is appointing an anti-corruption officer within its ranks, thereby complying with EU requirements and reaffirming that the lobbying profession in Ukraine must be transparent, comprehensible, and one that operates exclusively within the legal framework and pays taxes,” Shevchuk noted at a press conference at the Interfax-Ukraine news agency on Wednesday.

According to him, NALU is the first civil society organization in Ukraine to formalize the role of an anti-corruption officer within the professional lobbying community. “No shady schemes, no dirty money, no payments without taxes. We are setting an example of how modern lobbying should work—as transparent interaction between business and parliament, not corruption,” the chairman of the board emphasized.

At the same time, Shevchuk criticized the procedure for monitoring lobbyists’ activities approved by the National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NAZK), which, he said, was adopted without public consultations with the professional community. He considers this approach to be interference by a government agency in an independent profession.

“The National Agency for Corruption Prevention is effectively attempting to establish control over the lobbying profession by adopting documents without consulting the industry. Just as the state does not interfere in the work of attorneys, private enforcement agents, or notaries, it should not usurp influence over lobbyists either. Any reporting mechanisms must be discussed publicly with the professional community,” he emphasized.

The head of the National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine (NALU) stressed that in the absence of an open discussion, the association will appeal to parliament, the government, the Office of the President, and European institutions to alert them to the risks of excessive interference by the National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NAZK) in the regulation of lobbying.

Lyudmyla Kozhura, Director of the Law Institute at the Vadym Hetman Kyiv National Economic University and Doctor of Law, in turn, emphasized that in European democracies, systematic interaction between government regulators and lobbyist associations is an established practice.

“If Ukraine is moving toward the European community and adopting the best democratic standards as its foundation, the state must establish a regular dialogue with the National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine. In the EU, the U.S., and Canada, regulators systematically hold consultations and discussions with lobbyist associations. This format of cooperation should also be introduced in Ukraine, and we are open to such interaction,” Kozhura emphasized.

Yana Tsymbalenko, an associate professor at the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, a Ph.D. in public administration, and an expert on corruption prevention, has been appointed as the Anti-Corruption Commissioner of the National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine (NALU). She noted that any new tools related to the profession of lobbying—which is transparent in Ukraine—must be implemented openly.

“Lobbying is not corruption; lobbying is anti-corruption if it is carried out transparently and in the public interest. The profession of a lobbyist requires not only a high level of professionalism but also a clear understanding of ethical standards and the consequences of the decisions made. However, the NACP’s decisions regarding the regulation of lobbyists’ activities appear, at the very least, premature without broad expert discussion. “As the authorized official for corruption prevention, I will ensure maximum transparency in the Association’s activities and prevent any shady practices,” Tsymbalenko emphasized.

Vitalia Globa, Executive Director of the National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine (NALU), reported that the NALU board unanimously supported the establishment of the office of the anti-corruption commissioner and a public appeal to the NACP.

“The National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine is open to dialogue, cooperation, and professional participation in the drafting of regulations concerning the lobbying profession. At the same time, we insist that no decisions regarding the professional activities of lobbyists can be made without consulting the relevant association, without expert discussion, and without transparent procedures,” she added.

Vitalia Globa recalled that the NALU had previously sent an official notification to the NACP stating that the Association is the first professional organization in the field of lobbying and the protection of business interests in Ukraine, brings together leading experts, and is ready to collaborate on regulatory decisions.

NALU representatives also reported that the Association has already developed guidelines on transparency rules for lobbyists’ work and a model contract with businesses, and is preparing educational programs in collaboration with leading universities and international partners. In-person meetings are expected to be held with representatives of lobbying communities from the United Kingdom, the United States, and EU countries.

The National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine brings together more than 40 specialists, representing about 40% of the total number of lobbyists registered in the transparency registry. The organization calls for an open discussion of the NACP’s draft document with the involvement of industry representatives, particularly from the fuel, agricultural, energy, and tobacco sectors.