The SSU is open for cooperation with the Business Ombudsman Council and is ready to continue promoting establishment of transparent conditions to ensure comfortable business environment, taking into account present-day challenges to national security.

This was discussed during a working meeting of the SSU Head Ivan Bakanov with Business Ombudsman in Ukraine Roman Washchuk.

‘Stable functioning of strategic industries - energy, transport, banking, finance, etc. - is part of national security. And the law enforcement agencies, including the SSU, must adhere to the law and the limits of their powers so that state interests remain protected, but at the same time preventing violations of rights of domestic business and foreign investors,’ Ivan Bakanov remarked.

In response, Business Ombudsman Roman Washchuk thanked for cooperation and emphasized that of all law enforcement agencies, entrepreneurs complain the least about the SSU.

‘Business Ombudsman Council established effective cooperation with the Security Service. The Expert Group established in accordance with our Memorandum on Cooperation, where the Council is represented by my Deputy Iaroslav Gregirchak, is working well. Last year we received the lowest number of complaints from businesses about the activities of the SSU, especially if compared to complaints about other law enforcement agencies. And we managed to find solutions on almost all issues,’ Roman Washchuk informed. ‘In total, since its establishment in May 2015, the Council has issued 65 individual recommendations for the SSU. 62 of them have been implemented (95%).’

The Head of the SSU thanked for such assessment of the Service and stressed that the SSU is open for cooperation both on individual complaints and on the implementation of the Council’s systemic recommendations related to law enforcement.