CNN
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Ukrainian authorities have launched a series of anti-corruption crackdowns across the country, uncovering caches of cash, luxury watches and cars.
Among those caught up in the probe is the acting head of the Kyiv tax authority, who was allegedly part of a scheme to miss 45 billion Ukrainian hryvnia ($1.2 billion) in unpaid taxes.
On Wednesday, the National Bureau of Investigation (SBI) said it found hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, luxury watches and a car at the tax chief’s residence. CNN has reached out to the individual for comment.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said the raid was part of an effort to combat what they described as the country’s “internal enemy”.
“Any criminal who dares to harm Ukraine, especially in times of war, clearly understands that we put handcuffs on his hands,” SBU head Vasyl Mariuk said in a statement. need to do it.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said as he prepared to meet with European Union officials for talks on Ukraine’s possible bloc membership on Friday, he said his government would make the country “more humane and transparent.” He said he was working on “new reforms” that would make it more efficient and effective.
On January 24, European Commission spokeswoman Ana Pisonello said fighting corruption was “an important aspect of the EU accession process”.
Various raids were carried out on Wednesday, including a raid on the property of former Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, in connection with an investigation into the Jan. 18 helicopter crash that killed 14 people.
Avakov was Minister of the Interior when the “Super Puma” ES-225 helicopter involved in the crash was purchased from France as part of a deal signed in 2018.
As usual, Ukrainian authorities say they are investigating all possible causes of the helicopter crash, including pilot error, technical glitches and sabotage.
The SBU also accused a “former owner” of Ukraine’s largest oil drilling and refining company of “misappropriating” $1.1 billion.
“It was established that illegal schemes were combined with tax evasion and money laundering,” the SBU said.
Oil companies PJSC Ukrnafta and PJSC Ukrtatnafta were nationalized last year as part of Ukraine’s martial law.
According to the SBU, the top manager of PJSC Ukrtatnafta was notified of suspected criminal activity.
The SBU also said it had charged a former defense ministry procurement chief with embezzlement for purchasing thousands of substandard protective vests.
The official spent $2.7 million worth of nearly 3,000 body armor for the Ukrainian army, which was later found to be unable to “adequately protect Ukrainian soldiers.”
The SBU said the officials were charged with “embezzlement, embezzlement or seizure of property for abuse of duty,” obstruction of the military, and “collective criminal acts.”
The SBU said the individual faces five to eight years in prison and has recalled vests that do not meet standards.
“Furthermore, the SBU conducts investigative activities against other officials in the security and defense sector who may be involved in illegal activities that compromise national security. It is a series of measures to
The raid comes after Zelensky fired a number of senior Ukrainian officials amid a growing corruption scandal linked to wartime procurements, in the biggest upset of his government since the Russian invasion began. .
The parliamentary majority leader, David Arakhamia, said authorities were conducting a “spring raid campaign, not a sowing campaign.”
“Countries will change during war,” said Alakamia. “If someone is not ready for change, the nation will come and help them change.”
