The 245th issue of the Reform Index, covering the period from August 12 to 28, includes three regulations, with the Index value reaching +0.4 points. In the previous issue, the Index stood at +1.
Graph 1. Dynamics of the Reform Index
Graph 2. Values of the Reform Index and its Components in the Current Assessment Round
The government will create a reserve of cultural sector workers in de-occupied territories, +1 point
In August, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the Procedure for Creating a Reserve of Cultural and Information Sector Workers to operate in de-occupied territories. This initiative aims to establish a personnel reserve for cultural institutions that will be created or resume operations after de-occupation.
The reserve will consist of individuals already working in the cultural and information sectors or those interested in joining these fields. Interested candidates can register online using an electronic signature.
The system will display applicants’ personal data, including education, previous workplace, overall experience, and the specific location (enterprise) where the applicant wishes to work. The reserve will also include information about enterprises in liberated territories that require workers.
The project is funded through international assistance. The owner and administrator of the reserve is the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications.
Information about the Reforms Index project, the list of Index experts and the database of the regulations assessed are available here.
Expert commentary
Mila Shevchenko, Project Coordinator at NGO Crimea SOS
“In August 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the Procedure for Creating a Reserve of Workers in the Cultural and Information Sectors for employment in de-occupied territories. This regulatory act outlines the technical aspects of the functioning of the reserve for candidates in these fields following the de-occupation of relevant Ukrainian territories.
Forming a reserve for cultural and information sector workers is part of the state policy to prepare personnel for future work in de-occupied territories. Based on monitoring the situation in Crimea since 2014, we can say with certainty that the cultural and information sectors are among the most deeply infiltrated by Russian propaganda, which seeks to justify the illegal annexation of Crimea, the full-scale war, war crimes, etc.
For example, during the years of Crimea’s occupation, the number of media outlets on the peninsula decreased more than tenfold. There is no longer any media openly criticizing the occupation authorities or displaying disloyalty. Attempts to report the truth in Crimea can result not only in administrative fines under laws against spreading “false information” (as repeatedly experienced by the Crimean Tatar newspaper “Qırım”) but also in years of imprisonment (as happened to Radio Liberty freelancer Vladyslav Yesypenko and citizen journalist Iryna Danylovych). Many local media outlets relocated to mainland Ukraine in the first year of the occupation. These journalists’ professional experience and understanding of the situation in Crimea could be highly valuable for future work on the de-occupied peninsula.
The cultural sphere has also been heavily influenced by Russian propaganda and militarization. The occupation authorities in Crimea have, at the very least, neglected and, in some cases, deliberately distorted or destroyed cultural landmarks that do not align with propagandistic narratives of “historically Russian land.” Therefore, cultural experts with experience in preserving and restoring cultural heritage and in de-ideologizing cultural life will be essential.
Creating a reserve of workers in the cultural and information sectors for de-occupied territories is essential even before the liberation of these areas to prevent an institutional vacuum after their long-awaited freedom. Our organization is actively contributing to this effort. In many of our projects, we collaborate with representatives from the cultural and information sectors, particularly in a project aimed at documenting cultural heritage and cultural infrastructure objects destroyed or damaged by Russia. This project is being implemented under the USAID-funded Enhance Non-Governmental Actors and Grassroots Engagement (ENGAGE!) program, administered by Pact in Ukraine.”
Chart 3. Value of Reform Index components and number of events
Reform Index from VoxUkraine aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of reform efforts by Ukraine’s authorities. The Index is based on expert assessments of changes in the regulatory environment in six areas: Governance, Public Finance, Monetary system, Business Environment, Energy, Human Capital. Information about the Reforms Index project, the list of Index experts and the database of the regulations assessed are available here.
Attention
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