Polish PM calls for zero tolerance for corruption in Ukraine
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Friday commented on reports of major corruption scandal in Ukraine's energy sector, urging that such incidents should not be tolerated.
On Wednesday, Ukraine's Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk resigned in connection with a corruption scandal at the largest state-owned nuclear power plant operator, Energoatom. Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko also resigned, as demanded by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The resignations came in the wake of a major investigation into corruption in Ukraine’s energy sector conducted by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). The probe, conducted under an operation "Midas" that began in summer 2024, revealed a large-scale money-laundering scheme in the sector.
According to investigators' findings, participants in the scheme took bribes from Energoatom's contractors, ranging from 10 percent to 15 percent of the contract value in return for retaining supplier status and ensuring their products and services were not blocked. The illegal funds were allegedly legalised by a so-called "back office" in central Kyiv, through which around USD 100 million was estimated to have passed.
Five people were detained, and seven were charged. Timur Mindich, a businessman, co-owner of the Kvartal 95 production studio, and a long-time associate of Zelensky, is reportedly at the heart of the scandal. According to prosecutors, Mindich maintained close contacts with Halushchenko, then minister of energy, through whom he controlled financial flows in the energy and gas sectors. He fled Ukraine hours before police came to search his apartment in Kyiv on November 10.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk commented on the "Midas" anti-corruption operation during a Friday press briefing.
"It is in Poland's interest for Ukraine to be an independent state, a state with institutions, an honest state, and we want to continue supporting Ukraine, and we will support Ukraine in its defence against Russia, because in this way we also defend Poland," he told reporters.
However, he said, "it will be increasingly difficult to convince various partners to show solidarity around Ukraine if such facts emerge."
Tusk added that the Ukrainian president seemingly reacted quite decisively, and that Ukraine has withdrawn its intention to shut down or strip NABU, an institution established to combat corruption, of its powers.
"The Ukrainian state and president Zelensky seem genuinely committed to prosecuting those responsible for this corruption, but the milk has been spilled, and the cost will be very high either way," he said.
"I sincerely appeal once again to everyone in Ukraine who has a say in this issue – beware of corruption, beware of this Russian model, because you will lose the war if you tolerate such events," Tusk added. (PAP)
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