Ukraine’s anti-corruption agency raided the homes of senior government officials and a former business partner of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as part of an investigation into an alleged multi-million dollar corruption scheme in the country’s energy sector.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) said on Monday that it had uncovered “high-level” corruption at Ukraine’s state nuclear energy company Energoatom. The investigators accused the state officials, including a former advisor to the Minister of Energy, of receiving kickbacks of $100 million from contractors hired to protect Ukraine’s energy infrastructure from Russian air strikes.
The corruption scandal has likely weakened Zelenskyy’s reputation, even though there are no direct allegations against the president, threatening to undermine his ties with the US and the European Union (EU). Ukraine has experienced heavy Russian bombardment against its national energy infrastructure since the war started in February 2022.
“The latest scandal with its high-level ramifications is likely to raise many questions among international donors and the local population,” Aura Sabadus, a Senior Fellow with the Democratic Resilience Program at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), wrote on Wednesday. “They are sure to provide fuel for Russian propaganda campaigns in an effort to undermine Western support and stoke division within the country.”
Two Ministers Resign after Corruption Allegations
Zelenskyy called for the resignation of Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko, who previously served as energy minister, and the current Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk. They submitted their letters of resignation to Prime Minister Yuliya Svyrydenko on Wednesday.
“The minister of justice and the minister of energy cannot remain in office,” Zelenskyy said in an evening video address. “This is, among other things, a matter of trust. If there are accusations, they must be addressed.”
Zelenskyy announced a “cleansing and reset” of Energoatom’s management. He added that he will sign a decree imposing sanctions on two individuals implicated in the NABU case involving the firm. He gave no further details.
Despite the president’s latest move, the corruption allegations continue to affect his close allies. One of the suspects, Tymur Mindich, who evaded law enforcement, is a close associate and former business partner of Zelenskyy. He co-owned Zelenskyy’s production company, Kvartal 95, when the president worked as a comedian and actor.
Corruption Scandal to Shake Up US-Ukrainian Ties
The corruption scandal may likewise …Full story available on Benzinga.com
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