Ukraine-Russia conflict: Zelensky dismisses high-ranking officials due to accusations of widespread corruption
In the ongoing battle against corruption, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has taken decisive steps to uphold his promises and maintain the integrity of his government.
Recent developments have seen the resignation of Deputy Prosecutor General Oleksiy Symonenko and the departure of the replacement head of Ukraine's governmental office, without specified reasons. Notably, Vasyl Lozynsky, the replacement minister of Ukraine's infrastructure ministry, was dismissed following allegations of accepting a USD 400,000 bribe. Lozynsky is accused of being part of an organized criminal team involved in embezzling budget funds, particularly in relation to contracts for restoring infrastructure centers damaged by Russian missile strikes.
Zelenskyy stated that Lozynsky's dismissal was intended to send a "signal to all those whose activities or behavior breach the concept of justice." The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine is currently working to identify other participants in the alleged criminal group.
In a related move, Deputy Defense Minister Viacheslav Shapovalov has resigned, according to local media, due to a scandal involving the purchase of food for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Kyrylo Tymoshenko, who joined the presidential office in 2019, has also asked to be relieved of his responsibilities.
However, it is not clear if there have been any other changes in the Ukrainian government or defense forces in response to corruption allegations. The focus has been on reforming the leadership and control of anti-corruption institutions themselves rather than naming and firing individual officials.
Controversy arose when Zelenskyy signed a bill giving the Prosecutor General, appointed by him, control over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). This move, which reversed prior safeguards to keep these bodies independent, sparked major protests and accusations that Zelenskyy's administration was undermining anti-corruption reforms amid claims of Russian infiltration in these agencies.
Critics, including Transparency International’s Ukraine branch and former anti-corruption activists such as Mustafa Nayyem, condemned the law as a step back that severely weakens Ukraine’s anti-corruption efforts. Following protests, Zelenskyy submitted a bill to restore some independence to these anti-corruption bodies, responding to public pressure.
Zelenskyy reiterated his commitment to not allowing a return to past corruption practices and promised to continue action against corruption. The president justified the controversial bill as necessary to eliminate Russian moles and ensure swifter, more effective prosecutions of corruption cases that had stalled.
In his evening video address, Zelenskyy mentioned the dismissal of Lozynsky, signaling a commitment to upholding the principles of justice and transparency in his administration. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how these developments will impact the ongoing fight against corruption in Ukraine.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraines-zelenskyy-signs-controversial-bill-curtail-independence-anti-corruption-bodies-2021-07-01/ [2] https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-zelenskyy-signs-controversial-bill-on-anti-corruption-bodies/31265539.html [3] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/3/ukraine-protests-against-zelenskyy-over-anti-corruption-bill [4] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/02/world/europe/ukraine-zelenskyy-protests.html
- Despite the controversy surrounding his recent decision to give the Prosecutor General control over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated his commitment to combating corruption, as shown by his dismissal of the replacement minister of Ukraine's infrastructure ministry, Vasyl Lozynsky, who was accused of accepting a bribe and being involved in embezzling budget funds.
- As the ongoing fight against corruption in Ukraine unfolds, politics and general news have been focusing on Zelenskyy's efforts to reform the leadership and control of anti-corruption institutions, with recent developments such as the resignation of Deputy Defense Minister Viacheslav Shapovalov due to a food scandal and the departure of other officials without specified reasons, signaling a push for greater transparency and accountability in the government.
