Issue: № 4, 2026
Doi: https://doi.org/10.37634/efp.2026.4.21
Introduction. The definitions of “politically exposed person” and “person who has significant economic and political weight in public life” remain insufficiently studied in Ukrainian scientific research. They have gained quite wide publicity, however, questions remain regarding the common origins of both concepts, the peculiarities of each definition, and their application in modern Ukraine. The purpose of the paper is to investigate the concepts of "politically significant person" and "person who has significant economic and political weight in public life", to identify their common and distinctive features, and to assess the peculiarities of their legal application in Ukraine and abroad. Results. It has been established that in the era of digital communications and post-truth, the very concept of political significance of a person is the most debatable. Having access to the media and the formation of information personalities, one can both downplay and exaggerate the political significance of a particular person (quoting them, personal brand, etc.). Although the very genesis of the term politically significant person indicates that, as in the case of the formation of the definition of persons who have significant economic and political weight in public life, the leading goal was to eradicate illegal influence on state institutions, however, the purpose of introducing the definitions has significant differences, which prompts further scientific developments. It has been determined that politically significant persons who are national public figures in Ukraine, as in other states, must meet certain criteria, ethical standards, etc. It has been established that there are additional mechanisms for ensuring that such persons are informed about the norms of ethical behavior and integrity. It is noted that such mechanisms are absent for individuals who have significant economic and political weight in public life. After all, unlike most politically significant individuals, they usually did not perform public functions and could not be influenced by the ethical standards provided for certain categories of public figures. Conclusion. It is established that these legal categories are not mutually exclusive and can be applied to each specific person depending on his individual characteristics. It is noted that the definition of a politically significant person in Ukraine has gone through stages of formation and has prospects for effective law enforcement. The concept of economic weight can be outlined through economic indicators that have an objective expression and ranking based on digital indicators.
Keywords : politically exposed person, a person who has significant economic and political weight in public life, oligarchs, destructive influence, law enforcement, corruption, national security, institutions, regulatory legal acts, legislative activity
References:
1. On the Prevention of Threats to National Security Related to the Excessive Influence of Persons who have Significant Economic or Political Weight in Public Life (Oligarchs): Law of Ukraine dated 23.09.2021 No 1780-IX. URL: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1780-20#Text (in Ukrainian).
2. Directive (EU) 2015/849 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing, amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Directive 2005/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Directive 2006/70/EC. URL: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/984_037-15?lang=en (in Ukrainian).
3. On prevention and counteraction to the legalization (laundering) of proceeds from crime, the financing of terrorism and the financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction: Law of Ukraine dated 06.12.2019 No 361-ІХ. URL: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/361-20#Text (in Ukrainian).
4. Latkovskyi P.P. The performance of public functions by politically prominent individuals in international organisations: contemporary challenges and the national dimension. Precarpathian Legal Bulletin. 2025. Vol. 2 (61). pp. 202-206. DOI: 10.32782/pyuv.v2.2025.35 (in Ukrainian).
5. Kolpakov V.K., Kurinnyi Ye.V., Sharaia A.A. Administrative law status of politically exposed persons in the financial monitoring system. Law and society. 2024. Vol. 3. pp. 388-393. DOI: 10.32842/2078-3736/2024.3.58 (in Ukrainian).
6. Dictionary-reference book for the course "Philosophical Anthropology" for students of 2nd, 3rd, 4th years of all specialties of full-time and part-time forms of study / сompiled A.H. Chichkov et al. Dnipropetrovsk, 2014. 20 p. URL: https://udhtu.edu.ua/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Filosofiya_antropologiya_slovnik.pdf (in Ukrainian).
7. Review of the judicial practice of the Cassation Civil Court within the Supreme Court in cases on the protection of dignity, honor and business reputation / compiled D.D. Luspenyk. Kyiv, 2019. URL: https://supreme.court.gov.ua/userfiles/media/new_folder_for_uploads/supreme/Ogliad_KCS.pdf (in Ukrainian).
8. Dictionary of Modern Socio-Political Lexicography (1991-2022) / compiled I.A. Kazimirov et al. Kyiv, 2024. 500 p. URL: https://www.nas.gov.ua/storage/editor/files/slovnyk_1739450120.pdf (in Ukrainian).
9. Bysaha K.V. Politically significant individuals: international experience. Modern science of the 21st century (10-12.06.2015). 2018. URL: https://int-konf.org/ru/2015/suchasna-nauka-khkhi-stolittya-10-12-06-2015/1083-bisaga-k-v-politichno-znachushchi-osobi-mizhnarodnij-dosvid (in Ukrainian).
10. Parliamentary study on monitoring financial transactions of persons with the status of "politically exposed persons", their family members and related persons. 16 p. URL: https://research.rada.gov.ua/uploads/documents/33913.pdf (in Ukrainian).