President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy removed the head of the Office of the Prosecutor General, Irina Venediktova, and the head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Ivan Bakanov, from his duties. The corresponding decrees appeared on the website of the President’s Office on Sunday, July 17, in the evening.
Later, in his video message, the president explained such decisions by the fact that a large number of traitors among the employees of the prosecutor’s office and the SBU, who remained in the occupied territory and work for Russia, raise very serious questions for the head of the SBU and the prosecutor general. Zelensky notedthat the specific actions and inactions of each official in the field of security and law enforcement will be evaluated: “The relevant inspection of law enforcement agencies already has the first results and will continue further.”
According to Bakanov, for a year now there has been talk that he should resign, because the reform of the SBU has completely failed
According to him, as of today, 651 criminal proceedings have been registered regarding high treason and collaboration activities of employees of the prosecutor’s office, pre-trial investigation bodies, and other law enforcement agencies. More than 60 employees of the prosecutor’s office and the SBU remained in the occupied territory and are working against Ukraine.
“Such an array of crimes against the foundations of the national security of the state and communications that have been recorded between employees of the law enforcement agencies of Ukraine and the special services of Russia raise very serious questions for the relevant leaders. Each of these questions will receive a proper answer. Today I decided to dismiss the Prosecutor General and head of the Security Service of Ukraine,” Zelensky said.
Bakanov is the last of Zelensky’s entourage who came with him in 2019
These events are the result of several factors. Firstly, Ukraine is under a lot of pressure from our Western partners who want the results of the reforms.
It is clear that Venediktova is an attempt to divert attention from the topic of SAP. After all, all Western partners demand the appointment of a SAPO prosecutor. Competition for this position is still last year’s history. However, our government categorically does not want to appoint a person to a position …
According to Bakanov, there has been talk for a year now that he should resign, because the reform of the SBU has completely failed. Moreover, after many events of the last five months, it is clear that entire areas of work of the SBU have failed.
But the situation is all the more interesting because Bakanov is the last of Zelensky’s entourage who came with him in 2019.
Thus, on the one hand, these personnel decisions are an attempt to respond to the reaction of the West to the failed reforms. But if our Western partners do not join, there are fears that, for example, instead of Bakanov, much worse (for the country) Vasily Malyuk (first deputy chairman of the SBU, head of the so-called central office K) will come to the SBU.
Alexey Golobutsky, political strategist, deputy director of the Situation Modeling Agency
–
