Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky removed two key figures in his country from their positions on Sunday. They are the head of the secret service SBU Ivan Bakanov and Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova. The president accuses the officials of collaborating with the Russian occupier among their staff and speaks of treason.
No reasons for the dismissals were mentioned in the decrees, although it had been known for some time that Zelensky was not satisfied with Bakanov’s performance.
Bakanov is a close confidant of Zelensky, whom he has known from an early age and with whom he also worked as a television comedian during his time. Bokanov has led the Secret Service since 2019. No successor for him has yet been announced.
Venediktova led the investigation into more than 18,000 cases of alleged war crimes. She was in The Hague this week for a conference on the prosecution of war crimes committed in Ukraine. Oleksi Simonenko takes over her position.
In a statement on Facebook Zelensky says there are more than 60 people residing in the occupied territories who work under the Attorney General and the security service. They would “oppose” Ukraine, according to Zelensky.
He also speaks of 651 criminal proceedings that are registered. This concerns issues such as treason and collaboration. The suspects have now been informed in almost two hundred proceedings. Zelensky said such crimes raised “very serious questions” for executives.
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