Ukraine’s Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko has been relieved of his duties following a raid related to a corruption investigation. The government decided on this in an extraordinary meeting, Prime Minister Yulia Swyrydenko said on Telegram.
Former Energy Minister Halushchenko is one of several suspects in Ukraine’s unprecedented corruption scandal under President Volodymyr Zelensky. There had been a search of Halushchenko’s house the day before. He has been justice minister since July.
Halushchenko wrote on Telegram that he agreed with Zvyrydenko. He wrote that he believed the firing during the investigation was civilized and correct. He also announced that he would defend himself legally and convey his position.
His ministry in Kyiv has confirmed the investigative work. Halushchenko fully supports law enforcement authorities, he said in a statement a day earlier. The Ministry of Justice consistently adheres to the “principle of zero tolerance for corruption”. No details were provided about the possible charges.
Suspicions of money laundering run into the millions
The National Anti-Corruption Office and the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) of Ukraine had previously announced an investigation into the company Energoatom. It’s about bribes that are said to have flowed into the construction of protective devices around energy systems against Russian air attacks. On Tuesday, the anti-corruption office reported five arrests and seven suspected cases. The group is said to have laundered around $100 million (86.4 million euros) in bribes.
At the center of the investigation is Selenskyj’s longtime associate, Tymur Minditsch. He not only exerted influence on Halushchenko, but also on former Defense Minister Rustem Umjerov, as public prosecutor Serhii Savytskyj said, according to media reports. In his statement, Umjerow acknowledged contact with Minditsch, but firmly rejected allegations of corruption.
Zelensky’s confidant is considered the main suspect
Minditsch has been a confidant and business partner of President Zelenskyj since he was an actor. It said the main suspect had influenced state decisions “in the energy and arms sectors”. Minditsch is said to have left Ukraine. Zelensky demanded that the guilty should be punished, whatever their character.
Energoatom spoke of an “incident” that had no impact on the company’s financial stability, electricity production and the safety of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. Nevertheless, it appears to be the biggest bribery scandal in Ukraine during the war against aggressors from Russia, which has lasted more than three and a half years. Despite reforms, the country that wants to join the EU is still considered one of the countries in Europe most vulnerable to corruption.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:251112-930-281075/2
