Zelensky’s confidants smuggled millions of people out of the country – including to Russia?

In Ukraine, Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko has been relieved of his duties after being arrested several times in a corruption scandal. 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, who was also backed by billions of dollars in aid from the West in his fight against Russia’s war of aggression.

Search of Halushchenko’s house

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. Several former and current members of the government have been affected by the investigation, including former deputy prime minister Olexij Chernyshov, who is considered a close confidant of Zelensky.

Halushchenko’s ministry in Kiev announced a day earlier that it would fully support law enforcement authorities. 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 Bureau (NABU) and the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) of Ukraine had previously announced an investigation into the state-owned company Energoatom, which is responsible for operating the nuclear power plant. 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. Investigators also released photos showing stacks of dollar bills still wrapped in plastic.

Investigation of “high-level criminal organization”

At the center of the investigation into this “notorious criminal organization” is Selenskyj’s long-time associate, Tymur Minditsch. The 46-year-old not only exerted influence on Halushchenko, but also on former Defense Minister Rustem Umjerov, as public prosecutor Serhiy Savytskyj said, according to media reports. Umyerov, who is now secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, acknowledged in a statement that he had contact with Minditsch, but categorically denied accusations of corruption.

According to Ukrainian media, Minditsch could also have carried out illegal business and enriched himself in the arms industry, which is important for Ukraine. He is said to have fled abroad after receiving information about an impending house search. According to media reports, he is in Israel.

Zelensky’s confidant is considered the main suspect

Minditsch has been a confidant and business partner of President Zelenskyj since he was an actor. The businessman was one of Zelensky’s most important associates before Zelensky was elected president in 2019 – among other things, he was a co-owner of the “Kwartal-95” studio founded by Zelensky.

The main suspects influenced state decisions “in the energy and arms sectors,” investigators said after 15 months of work on their “Midas” operation. They also recorded 1,000 hours of wiretapped conversations from the suspects. The defendant is also said to have used an alias – hence Minditsch is also called “Karlson”. There are also accusations that Minditsch could influence personnel decisions in the government because of his close relationship with Zelensky.

So far, Zelenskyj has only briefly commented on the investigation into Energoatom in his evening video message, without going into detail or naming him. The guilty must be punished, he said. At the same time, he called on government officials to cooperate with NABU investigators.

Energoatom has special meaning for Ukraine

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. State-owned enterprises are considered very important because the majority of domestic energy production comes from nuclear power plants.

The energy industry became a major focus during the winter as many systems were damaged or destroyed by Russian drone and missile attacks. The scandal comes at an inopportune time for Ukraine’s leaders as many people are kept in the dark while officials are said to have enriched themselves through illegal transactions.

Money flowing to Russia?

Minditsch and business partners he befriended were said to have received between 10 and 15 percent of orders from Energoatom and then laundered the money through the company’s network. According to NABU, money is said to be flowing abroad, including to Russia.

This appears to be Ukraine’s biggest bribery scandal during its war against Russian aggressors, 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.

The biggest case for NABU investigators

The case is considered the most important and largest to date for NABU investigators. Thousands of people demonstrated demanding government independence in the summer after Zelensky wanted to immediately put NABU and SAP under political control. There are already fears among many in Ukraine that Zelensky may pursue his own interests to protect those around him. Under pressure from the EU, he corrected his decision and restored the independence of the authorities.

In the summer, Zelensky’s confidant Minditsch and former deputy prime minister Chernyshov were named as part of a crackdown on the authorities’ independence.