The police raids come a week after a number of high-ranking Ukrainian officials were ousted in the wake of a corruption scandal involving military supplies
Police officers and operations aimed at an oligarchpublic authorities and officials took place today in Ukraine over corruption, which is endemic in the country and has had an impact, in the midst of war, on the procurement of the army.
David Arahamia, head of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s party, announced on Telegram that the police operations mainly targeted the billionaire Ihor Kolomoisky, tformer Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov, who died in a helicopter crash in Kyiv last month and the Ukrainian tax authorities, while the customs department was dismissed. High-ranking officials of the Ministry of Defense also received the visit of the researchers.
“The country will change with war and if someone is not ready for change, then the state will come and help them change,” Arahamia insisted, referring to the scourge of endemic corruption.
The police raids come a week after a number of high-ranking Ukrainian officials were ousted in the wake of a corruption scandal involving military supplies, the first of its kind since the start of the Russian invasion.
Besides, Kyiv is hosting an EU summit the day after Friday which has made anti-corruption measures a critical reform if Ukraine is to one day become part of the union.
Ukrainian authorities, whose war effort depends heavily on military and financial support from Europe and the United States, also want to root out corruption so as not to disappoint their Western allies.
The investigators of the Ukrainian security services (SBU) released eimages from the search of Kolomoisky’s house, in the context of a case of embezzlement of 40 billion hryvnias (about one billion euros at today’s exchange rate) in which oil companies are involved.
The billionaire who has been sanctioned by the United States supported Volodymyr Zelensky in his 2019 election campaign. They remained close to each other for some time, before the Ukrainian president distanced himself.
The State Investigation Bureau, an anti-corruption agency, has for its part raided the tax authorities, charging “the head of the Kyiv tax authorities with conspiracy to illegally enrich several billion dollars”.
Finally, according to Arahamia, the investigators served high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Defense with notifications making them official suspects.
He did not specify, however, what they are accused of and whether the operation was related to the scandal that was revealed last week about a contract signed by the Ministry of Defense at an exorbitant price for food products intended for soldiers in various areas.
According to Ukrainska Pravda, the raid on Kolomoisky’s home was related to alleged abuse of oil products and evasion of customs duties.
Separately, Avakov said his home was raided as part of an investigation into the Jan. 18 helicopter crash that killed 14 people, including Interior Minister Denis Monastirskyi.
He said investigators were looking into the purchase six years ago of an Airbus helicopter model involved in the crash, but “nothing of interest to the investigation has been found”.
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
