Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that anti-corruption agencies in Ukraine operate independently and without interference from the president. He emphasised that the proximity or remoteness of those involved in cases is irrelevant to the work of law enforcement agencies.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this in an interview with a Fox News journalist.
According to the president, his main focus is currently on the war, while anti-corruption agencies in Ukraine operate independently and do their job without interference from the authorities. Zelenskyy noted that no one interferes with the activities of these agencies and they have complete independence.
‘It doesn’t matter who the person is, whether they are close to us or not, whether we know them or not, or whether we don’t know them at all. I mean, they (anti-corruption agencies) must do their job. This is war, and this is democracy as well,’ Zelenskyy emphasised.
The president noted that during wartime, not all processes can be carried out perfectly and exclusively according to peaceful procedures, but this does not negate the principles of democracy and the need to respect the work of independent bodies.
We will remind you that the main figure in the corruption scandal in the energy sector was businessman Timur Mindich, who is said to be close to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to the investigation, there was a scheme of systematic ‘kickbacks’ amounting to 10-15% of the contract value around Energoatom. Suppliers paid to avoid having their payments blocked or losing their status as contractors. According to law enforcement officials, the funds received were legalised through a ‘back office’ in Kyiv linked to the family of former MP and now Russian Senator Andriy Derkach.