At the weekend, Ukraine was rocked by even two corruption scandals – one related to suspicions of unreasonably increased prices food procurement contracts in the Ministry of Defence, the other for bribery in the generator procurement case. He has already lost his position Deputy Minister of Regions and Infrastructure Development Vasils Lozinskis.
The fact that corruption has long been a rather big problem in Ukraine probably won’t come as a surprise to anyone who has more or less followed Ukraine’s domestic politics.
When the Russian invasion began, it seemed that Ukraine would focus all its attention on the fight against the invaders and the issue of corruption took a back seat. However, apparently, even in such a difficult situation in the Ukrainian state, there are people who try to take advantage of the opportunity and make a living at the expense of society.
It will be necessary to act according to the laws of wartime
Like Monday express yourself David Arahamia, leader of the faction of the ruling party “Tautas Kalps”, said that some have lost their common sense and engage in marauding “without fear or remorse”.
Arahamia reports: After the war started in February last year, all officials were warned through various official and unofficial channels to stop dealing with dubious matters and focus on the war, helping the victims and reducing red tape.
“Many understood, but unfortunately many did not. This spring, we will start actively incarcerating them. If we do not meet humanely, we will have to act according to wartime laws,” says Arahamia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also commented on the information that came to light over the weekend emphasizedthat it is time to take decisive steps, but the investigators have every opportunity to bring these cases to court.
“At the moment, the main attention should be paid to defense, foreign policy and war issues. But this does not mean that I do not see and feel what is happening at different levels of power – both in the center and in the regions.
Several specific decisions will be made during this week. They are already prepared. I don’t want to elaborate, but it will all be fair.
I understand that people’s attention is attracted and I promise that we will explain everything in detail in every situation,” Zelenskis said.
Changes are expected in the government of Ukraine
As reported publication “Ukrainska Pravda”the Minister of Energy of Ukraine Hermans Halushchenko, the Minister of Sports Affairs and the head of the Olympic Committee of Ukraine Vadims Gutcaits and the Minister of Strategic Industry Sectors Pavlo Ryabkin could lose their positions in the near future.
There are also active discussions in the president’s team about whether such ministerial positions are necessary at all and whether it would be more appropriate to eliminate or combine them. Previously, members of parliament had expressed a desire to replace the ministers of education and veterans’ affairs as well, but these issues are not currently on the agenda.
“Ukrainska Pravda”, referring to its sources, reports that currently only two people make the final decision on all personnel issues: President Zelensky and the head of the presidential office Andriy Yermak.
The fight against corruption in Ukraine will definitely attract international attention, as the West is increasingly calling for more careful control of how exactly and to what extent foreign aid is used.
This applies to both financial and military assistance, as well as assistance in the restoration of destroyed infrastructure, in which, for example, in the Chernihiv region, Latvia also intends to participate.
Ukraine may have to resort to various mock trials to polish its image.
Highlight the text and press Ctrl+Enterto send the text fragment to be corrected to the editor!
Highlight the text and press on Report a bug buttons to send the text fragment to be corrected to the editor!
