| |
Ukraine Suspends Justice Mini 11/12 06:19
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) -- Ukraine on Wednesday suspended the country's justice
minister over his role in a wide-reaching corruption scandal involving the
state nuclear power company and top government figures close to President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The announcement, made by Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, came after
Ukraine's anti-corruption agency said Tuesday it has detained five people and
identified seven other suspects in a major graft investigation involving
alleged kickbacks worth around $100 million in the energy sector.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau did not name the suspects but said they
include a businessman believed to be the mastermind, a former advisor to the
energy minister, and an executive with the power company Energoatom.
The agency also accused eight people of bribery, abuse of office and
possession of disproportionate assets on Tuesday. The investigation, which
began 15 months ago, was welcomed by Zelenskyy who urged officials to cooperate
with the probe. Energoatom says the investigation has not disrupted its
operations.
After his suspension from the post of justice minister, Herman Halushchenko
said in a Facebook post that he would defend himself in court.
"I believe that being suspended for the duration of the investigation is a
civilized and proper course of action," he said. "I will defend myself in the
legal domain and prove my position."
Halushchenko, who was energy minister from 2021 until July when he took over
as justice minister, has not been formally charged.
Svyrydenko, the prime minister, said Deputy Minister of Justice for European
Integration Liudmyla Suhak will take over Halushchenko's duties as acting
minister.
The alleged ringleader of the scheme is a close associated of Zelenskyy's,
Timur Mindich, who was among those charged, according to local media reports.
|
|
