Zelenskyy calls for resignation of two ministers in multi-million dollar corruption probe
Photo: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for the resignation of Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko and Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk amid a corruption scandal in the energy sector, the president made this statement during his daily address.
According to the head of state, these ministers cannot remain in their positions, as the issue of trust is fundamental. Zelenskyy emphasized that if there are accusations, they must be addressed.
"The decision on suspension from office is prompt, the fastest one. I have asked the Prime Minister of Ukraine to ensure that these ministers submit their resignations. I also ask members of the Verkhovna Rada to support these resignations," the president said.
What preceded
At the beginning of the week, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), together with the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP), announced the uncovering of a large-scale corruption scheme in the state-owned company Energoatom.
According to the investigation, the enterprise was effectively under the control of an organized group whose members demanded kickbacks of 10–15% of the value of signed contracts from contractors. NABU clarified that the illegally obtained funds were laundered through an office in central Kyiv belonging to the family of former Member of Parliament Andrii Derkach.
Amid the investigation, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that cleansing Energoatom of corruption is one of the state’s key priorities.
On November 11, the company’s supervisory board held a special meeting in response to the corruption scandal in the energy sector. Following that, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced that the government had decided to prematurely terminate the powers of the members of the supervisory board of NAEK Energoatom.
Earlier this morning, Svyrydenko also reported that Halushchenko had been suspended from his duties as Justice Minister. Halushchenko himself stated that he is not clinging to his position.
“I will not cling to it. I believe that suspension during the investigation is a civilized and proper course of action. I will defend myself through legal means and prove my position,” the former minister emphasized.
More details about the NABU investigation are available in the RBC-Ukraine report.
