Ukraine suspends justice minister over corruption probe involving top figures close to Zelenskyy

Ukraine has suspended the country’s justness curate implicit his relation successful a wide-reaching corruption ungraded involving the authorities atomic powerfulness institution and apical authorities figures adjacent to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

KYIV, Ukraine -- Ukraine connected Wednesday suspended the country's justness curate implicit his relation successful a wide-reaching corruption scandal involving the authorities atomic powerfulness institution and apical authorities figures adjacent to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The announcement, made by Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, came aft Ukraine's anti-corruption bureau said Tuesday it has detained 5 radical and identified 7 different suspects successful a large graft probe involving alleged kickbacks worthy astir $100 cardinal successful the vigor sector.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau did not sanction the suspects but said they see a businessman believed to beryllium the mastermind, a erstwhile advisor to the vigor minister, and an enforcement with the powerfulness institution Energoatom.

The bureau besides accused 8 radical of bribery, maltreatment of bureau and possession of disproportionate assets connected Tuesday. The investigation, which began 15 months ago, was welcomed by Zelenskyy who urged officials to cooperate with the probe. Energoatom says the probe has not disrupted its operations.

After his suspension from the station of justness minister, Herman Halushchenko said successful a Facebook station that helium would support himself successful court.

“I judge that being suspended for the duration of the probe is simply a civilized and due people of action," helium said. “I volition support myself successful the ineligible domain and beryllium my position.”

Halushchenko, who was vigor curate from 2021 until July erstwhile helium took implicit arsenic justness minister, has not been formally charged.

Svyrydenko, the premier minister, said Deputy Minister of Justice for European Integration Liudmyla Suhak volition instrumentality implicit Halushchenko's duties arsenic acting minister.

The alleged ringleader of the strategy is simply a adjacent associated of Zelenskyy's, Timur Mindich, who was among those charged, according to section media reports.

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