NABU, SAPO expose criminal organization involving lawmakers, senior presidential office officials

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Ukraine's Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) have revealed a criminal organization involving lawmakers and senior officials from the Presidential Office. This criminal group is led by a current and a former Ukrainian lawmaker, alongside other individuals. The agencies shared this information on their Telegram channels, with a promise to provide further details later.

Teaser videos have been posted by NABU and SAPO to give a glimpse of the special operation, dubbed "Forrest Gump." The two-minute video consists of intercepted conversations between suspects; however, it offers little insight into the nature of the operation. Multiple media outlets, including MP Oleksiy Honcharenko, the Voice faction lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak, and Ukrainska Pravda journalist Mykhailo Tkach, have reported that searches are underway at the Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Iryna Mudra's residence and the premises of a sitting lawmaker who was part of the now-defunct Opposition Platform - For Life party.

It is believed that the operation targets a member of the formal coalition, rather than the Servant of the People coalition.

Mykhailo Tkach reported that searches are also taking place at the premises of non-affiliated lawmaker Vadym Stolar and former lawmaker Maksym Mykytas. Dzerkalo Tyzhnia confirmed this information, adding that officials from Ukraine's Justice Ministry and representatives of Sense Bank are also involved in the case. According to Honcharenko, the NABU searches are connected to Sense Bank and the release of bail for former Energy and Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko. However, Interfax-Ukraine has not confirmed or denied these reports.