Ukraine’s chief prosecutor fled. Politicians still choose the man who can prosecute them.
He is only the latest prosecutor general to leave the office in disgrace, and the office is the reason.
On 14 September, Ukraine's Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko fled the country at 2:30 AM, one week after claiming his innocence and resigning. The day prior, his wife had already left. Weeks earlier, he had signed a criminal suspicion against the chief of the anti-corruption bureau probing him. Since 2014, Ukraine has been in a precarious position, where the prosecutor general, the person tasked with holding powerful politicians accountable, has often ended up serving them instead.
Despite mass protests and the strengthening of anti-graft institutions, the problem persists. The office responsible for ensuring equal treatment under the law remains plagued by structural issues, with the prosecutor general's appointment, dismissal, and tenure being subject to political whims. This has created a situation where the very institution meant to protect citizens from corruption and abuse of power has become a tool of political convenience, rather than a bulwark of justice.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
