أزمة الفساد تهز كييف.. زيلينسكي يطالب بإقالة المدعي العام

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on parliament members today (Monday) to expedite the approval of the dismissal of Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, amid rising tensions between anti-corruption institutions and law enforcement agencies, following a series of prominent investigations.

Kravchenko announced his resignation from his position last week after one of the corruption investigations extended to his office. He has not been charged with any crime, nor has he been named as a suspect in any of the investigations, but anti-corruption authorities accused one of his subordinates of helping to manage a fraud network.

Zelensky stated in a message via the Telegram app that the only path for the prosecutor general is to leave his position, adding, "This is what I told him."

Under Ukrainian law, Zelensky must submit a formal request to parliament to accept the prosecutor general's resignation, while several lawmakers expect the vote on the request to take place on Tuesday.

Mutual accusations between anti-corruption agencies

The new crisis comes at a time when relations between Ukrainian anti-corruption bodies and law enforcement agencies have been under ongoing tension for the past year.

In a notable development, Kravchenko announced today that he has signed a notice of suspicion against the head of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), Semen Kryvonos, whose agency is involved in the investigations that have reached the prosecutor general's office.

Kravchenko accused Kryvonos of forging official documents to obtain "exceptionally illegal benefits," and also accused him of resorting to nominal adoption, as he claimed, to avoid legal responsibility before the judiciary.

For their part, both the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the specialized anti-corruption prosecutor's office rejected these accusations, considering Kravchenko's statements a new step in what they described as a "systematic attack on independent anti-corruption bodies."

The two institutions confirmed that the accusations against Kryvonos are untrue, noting that he has not been formally charged.

Struggle for the independence of anti-corruption institutions

Kravchenko previously faced criticism from his opponents, who accused him of participating in an attempt to undermine the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the specialized anti-corruption prosecutor's office over the past year, accusations he denied.

The recent developments reflect an escalating power struggle between law enforcement institutions and anti-corruption bodies in Ukraine, at a time when Kyiv faces increasing pressure to implement institutional reforms and combat corruption.

These reforms are particularly important for the Ukrainian government, as some commitments related to combating corruption are tied to obtaining vital funding from international partners.

Corruption pressures Zelensky's popularity

The crisis comes at a sensitive time for Zelensky, whose government faces growing challenges to maintain citizens' trust and international support, coinciding with the ongoing war against Russia.

Corruption scandals and investigations linked to state institutions could erode public trust in the presidency and the government, especially amid the ongoing war and the significant political, economic, and military pressures it imposes on the country.

At the same time, Kyiv seeks to maintain the trust of its Western allies, some of whom link continued financial and political support to the implementation of reforms related to governance, the rule of law, and anti-corruption.