Ukraine rocked by corruption scandal involving former Zelenskyy associate

This week, anti-corruption authorities said they had arrested five people and identified two others still at large, suspected of involvement in a scheme to control procurement at energy agency Energoatom and other state-owned enterprises.

One of the seven suspects identified by prosecutors is Timur Mindich, co-owner of the influential Kvartal 95 television studio, which produced the hit sitcom that made Mr. Zelenskyy famous as a comedian before launching his political career by running for president in 2019.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his former colleague Timur Mindich at the Kvartal 95 film studio.

A series of ministers and officials were named.

Ukraine's biggest wartime corruption scandal has sparked outrage in the country as it comes amid a shortage of equipment for Kiev's army to counter Russia's strong advances on the battlefield.

Mr Zelenskyy said in a video address that corruption in the energy sector was "absolutely unacceptable".

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko has submitted a request to parliament to dismiss Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk and Justice Minister German Galushchenko, Hrynchuk's predecessor.

Galushchenko has not been identified as one of the seven suspects announced this week, but a former adviser to Galushchenko has been identified. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, Hrynchuk said she had submitted her resignation. She also denied any wrongdoing.

In a subsequent post on Telegram, newly appointed Prime Minister Svyrydenko said her government had taken steps to remove other Energoatom officials, including a vice president, the finance and legal director and a senior official in charge of procurement.

"Pandora's Box" is opening

The investigation by the anti-corruption agency NABU, whose details have been gradually released in elaborately produced videos featuring the lead detective, is the latest revelation of rampant corruption in Mr Zelenskyy's wartime administration.

Speaking at a G7 meeting in Canada, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the scandal was "extremely regrettable". She said the Ukrainian authorities had "acted very strongly".

Earlier this year, President Zelenskyy tried to limit the powers of Ukraine's anti-corruption agency, but reversed those changes after protests and pressure from the European Union.

Political opponents accuse Mr Zelenskyy of trying to undermine the work of anti-corruption agencies to protect his associates, something Mr Zelenskyy strongly denies.

Valeriy Pekar, a prominent Ukrainian intellectual, wrote on Facebook that a “Pandora’s box” had now been opened and could reveal more shocking information. “The authorities are still underestimating the scale of the problem and are trying to slow it down.”

Source: https://congluan.vn/ukraine-chan-dong-boi-vu-tham-nhung-lien-quan-den-cuu-cong-su-cua-ong-zelenskyy-10317590.html