Anti-Korruptionsbehörden: Kiew: Ermittler und Ex-Minister setzen Selenskyj unter Druck

In Ukraine, anti-corruption investigators conducted a new raid targeting the environment of President Volodymyr Selenskyj. The focus was on the Vice-Chair of the Presidential Office in Kiev, Iryna Mudra, who was subsequently fired by Selenskyj. However, Selenskyj did not provide any reasons for Mudra's dismissal in his decree. The investigators are targeting allegations of money laundering in the millions.

Just before the raid, former Vice-Defense Minister Mychailo Fedorow criticized Selenskyj's lack of fight against corruption in Ukraine in a video message. The popular politician, supported by demonstrators, called for elections and a fight against corruption, stating that it is a matter of the country's survival and success even in times of war.

Fedorow emphasized the need to resist the influence of private interests on the work of parliament, defense, and certain sectors of the economy. He warned against being distracted by the ongoing Russian aggression war, stating that elections must not be determined by Moscow. The state must find a "legal, secure, and realistic mechanism" for an election despite the ongoing war.

Due to the war, regular presidential, parliamentary, and local elections have been canceled. In Kiev, after Selenskyj's dismissal of Fedorow, the parliament nominated counterintelligence officer Yevheniy Chmara as the new Defense Minister, ending a week-long suspense in which Chmara only acted as acting minister. Selenskyj praised Chmara's nomination and the confirmation of Andriy Sybiha as Foreign Minister, crediting the parliament for their support.

Chmara's election and Sybiha's confirmation were seen as successes by Selenskyj, who thanked the deputies for their assistance. Chmara was tasked with strengthening Ukraine and was confident that the country would receive more strength. The anti-corruption raid in Kiev was conducted due to allegations of a criminal organization led by a current and former Ukrainian parliamentary member, which operated under Selenskyj's and another MP's leadership.

High-ranking officials of the Presidential Office, as well as other individuals, were suspected of involvement in the crimes, including the former Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko. Mudra was specifically targeted in the investigations. The news was reported by Ukrainian media, citing other sources. A suspect was also named as the MP Wadym Stolar.

Investigations have a history of targeting Selenskyj's office. In spring, Selenskyj fired the head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, who categorically denied the allegations. Yermak was briefly in custody and then released on bail. The fall of the second-most powerful man in Kiev to Selenskyj shook the country deeply. Selenskyj vowed to lead Ukraine into the EU and promised a categorical fight against corruption and reforms after numerous financial scandals.

Selenskyj believed that Jermak, along with businessmen including former Selenskyj associate Tymur Minditsch and former Prime Minister Olexiy Tsyhnyschow, had laundered around nine million euros. This was part of a larger case. Several arrests had already been made in the previous year. Energy Minister Svitlana Hryntschuk and Justice Minister Halushchenko were dismissed.

The main suspect, Minditsch, had fled the country and was under arrest. Selenskyj tried to bring NABU and SAP under his control in July of the previous year, but faced protests and EU intervention, forcing him to restore the previous situation.