Zelensky’s office faces corruption probe in Ukraine as fired minister demands elections
Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies announced on Wednesday that they were investigating senior officials in President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office, a day after the country’s recently fired defence minister called for national elections despite the ongoing fight against Russia’s invasion. The political drama was an unwelcome distraction for Zelensky as Ukraine’s war with its bigger neighbour…
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Iryna Mudra from her post as deputy head of the presidential office on Wednesday following a corruption investigation. The investigation, conducted by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, is tied to a money-laundering case where 150 million hryvnias (US$3.4 million) were allegedly laundered to pay bail for a defendant in a major corruption case.
The case, involving the state-owned nuclear power company, previously led to the resignations of Ukraine’s justice and energy ministers. Mudra's office was searched by investigators, but she has not been named as a suspect. The investigation threatens to add another political crisis for Zelensky, who has already faced corruption allegations involving his chief of staff.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's recently fired defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, demanded national elections, citing the need to restore a full democratic process during wartime. Fedorov argued that the current system, oriented towards protecting itself and resisting change, had weakened Ukraine's ability to fight. Zelensky, however, maintains that such a ballot is not allowed under wartime laws.
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