Ukraine's ARMA chief steps down, says her mission is complete

The Head of the National Agency for the Detection, Investigation and Management of Assets Derived from Corruption and Other Crimes (ARMA), Olena Duma, has submitted her resignation. She announced it on Facebook on Wednesday, July 30.

Duma chose a symbolic date for her resignation — the day the law aimed at strengthening ARMA’s institutional capacity came into force.

"My mission here is complete," Duma stated, adding that all reforms implemented since 2023 are now officially embedded in Ukrainian law.

"An institution once notorious for inefficiency and a poor reputation has finally begun delivering tangible results: billions in state budget revenues, transparent processes via Prozorro and Prozorro.Sale, maximum openness to the media and public, expanded international cooperation, comprehensive asset identification, and the launch of a modernization effort for the Register of Seized Assets," she wrote.

One reason for her decision, according to Duma, was to ensure the full independence of an upcoming international audit of ARMA. She said she signed the resignation letter to "guarantee that the audit is conducted independently."

She expressed confidence that the government would appoint an acting head who could "successfully handle the audit" and maintain ARMA’s effectiveness until a new competitive selection is held.

• Duma was appointed head of ARMA on June 30, 2023, following an open competition.
• In an interview with LIGA.net, she said that ensuring transparency in the asset management system was a key priority for her.