“It has been decided to dismiss German Galushchenko from his duties as Minister of Justice,” Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced on social networks. The minister reacted soon after by announcing that he “agrees” with the suspension. This is “a civilized and correct scenario. I will defend myself in court,” the minister wrote on social media.
He was involved in one of the biggest corruption scandals in Ukraine’s government since the start of Russia’s invasion in February 2022, which rocked the country’s energy sector.
His suspension came shortly after Ukraine’s anti-corruption authorities announced that they had uncovered a system of corruption involving $100 million in embezzled funds and allegedly orchestrated by someone close to the president.
His house was ransacked
The National Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) on Tuesday accused Minister Galushchenko of receiving “personal benefits” in the case in exchange for control over financial flows in the energy sector. According to Ukrainian media the day before, German Galushchenko’s house was searched.
On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s close friend, Timur Minditch, was accused by Ukrainian investigators of masterminding this vast system of corruption, particularly around the national nuclear operator Energoatom. According to the investigation, Galushchenko took part when he was Minister of Energy.
This revelation comes at a time when Ukraine is facing a serious energy crisis, caused by Russian bombing, which caused massive power outages in the country ahead of winter.
