Zelenskyy signs law on transparency of procurement in Defence Ministry

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed Law No.8381 on introducing transparency in defence procurement. Source: Bill on the website of the Verkhovna Rada Details: It is reported that the document was returned with the President's signature on it on 21 March.

Background: 

• On 24 February, the Verkhovna Rada approved bill No.8381 On Amendments to the Law On Defence Procurement.
• In January, a scandal erupted over procurement by the Ministry of Defence. ZN.ua outlet reported that the Ministry of Defence was purchasing food for military personnel at rates that were two to three times higher than in Kyiv shops. The December agreement with Active Company was signed on behalf of the ministry by Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, who was involved in a case of embezzlement of US£580,000 during the purchase of military ammunition.
• The information about "chicken's eggs for 17 hryvnias" gained the most publicity: the journalists' investigation referred to the price per egg, although the document stated the price per 100 grams.
• Viacheslav Shapovalov, Deputy Minister of Defence, resigned on 24 January 2023 due to the scandal over food procurement for the Ukrainian military at inflated prices. Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, Head of the State Procurement Department at the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, who is involved in the food procurement scandal, was also dismissed from his position, which became known on 25 January.
• After that, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal ordered an update of the public procurement system for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which will include the publication of prices for food and goods. 

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