Ukrainian officials accused of embezzling 40 million in arms funds Zelensky discloses income to promote anti-corruption
29.01.2024
Ukrainian security services say employees of an arms company conspired with defense ministry officials to embezzle nearly $40 million used to buy mortars, but the money has been recovered. President Zelensky has disclosed his personal income for the past two years for the first time in a push for transparency among officials.
(Deutsche Welle Chinese website) Employees of a Ukrainian arms company and defense ministry officials have been accused of conspiring to embezzle nearly $40 million. This amount was originally used to purchase 100,000 mortar shells.
Ukraine’s security services said late Saturday that five people had been charged and one was detained while trying to leave the country. If found guilty, they face up to 12 years in prison.
The investigation comes as Kiev attempts to crack down on corruption and speed up its process of joining the European Union and NATO. Officials from both organizations have demanded that Kyiv first implement broad reforms in the area of anti-corruption.
Zelenskyand his team said that the newly appointed officials, including former head of state security Ivan Bakanovhigh level officialThe dismissal shows their anti-corruption efforts.
Security officials said the latest investigation dates back to August 2022, when officials signed a purchase agreement for artillery shells worth 1.5 billion hryvnia (approximately $39.6 million) with the arms company Lviv Arsenal.
Investigators said that after receiving payment, the company’s employees were supposed to transfer the money to a company registered overseas, which was supposed to ship the ammunition to Ukraine. However, the arms were never delivered and the money was transferred to various accounts in Ukraine and the Balkans.
Ukraine’s general prosecutor said the money had been recovered and would be returned to the defense budget.
Zelensky’s personal income drops
On Sunday, Zelensky disclosed his personal income for the past two years in a bid to promote transparency in officials’ pay and eradicatelong-standing corruption。
Zelensky announced on the president’s website that his personal income dropped in 2021, and after Russia invaded Ukraine at the end of February 2022, his income dropped further. This is the first time he has disclosed his personal income.
Before the Russian invasion, in 2021, Zelensky and his family reported income of 10.8 million hryvnia (approximately $286,168), including $142,000 from the sale of government bonds. This is 12 million hryvnia less than the previous year.
In 2022, the income of Zelensky’s family continued to drop to 3.7 million hryvnia, as the rent received from the real estate he owned decreased during the war.
Zelensky called on officials to disclose their personal income to increase transparency and eliminate corruption. Western allies and organizations such as the International Monetary Fund that provide arms and financial support to Ukraine also demand that the country commit to eliminating corruption.
(AP, Reuters)
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2024-01-29 11:40:01
