The bill on lobbying, which the Verkhovna Rada adopted as a whole, does not solve the problem of shadow lobbying, since it does not provide for the declaration of advisers to the head of the President's Office and the open work of committees, according to the Anti-Corruption Action Centre (AntAC).

"As AntAC wrote earlier, this bill will in no way solve the problem of promoting selfish interests through individual deputies and advisers to the President's Office," AntAC said on its website on Friday.

As noted, "officials, unlike registered "lobbyists," will not have to publicly report on meetings with interested parties. And various kinds of advisers to the Office of the President will be able to push through decisions necessary for selfish interests for any money, because they do not file declarations and their sources of income are unknown."

"The bill also absolutely does not provide for the transparent work of the Rada," AntAC said. In this regard, it is noted that meetings of the Rada and parliamentary committees are still broadcast "only in some cases. This allows deputies to push through the interests they need without prying eyes."

"Despite the fact that the adoption of the law on lobbying is a requirement of the EU, it looks like MPs once again want to imitate the reform in front of our international partners without changing the situation," AntAC said.