Written by Tyler Durden
Update (1120ET): Ukrainian president Zelenski confirmed the resignation of 2 key ministers and imposed individual sanctions on his erstwhile business partner in connection with the expansion of the corruption scandal in the country's energy sector.
"It is absolutely unacceptable that there are besides any schemes in the energy sector among all of this" Zelenski published on X.
Earlier on Wednesday, Justice Minister German Galushchenko was suspended in office in connection with the investigation, but more officials are falling...
Western mainstream media almost immediately began to control damage, and 1 of the articles in Bloomberg He tried to say as best as possible that it was not Ukraine's responsibility at all, but in fact in any way... Kremlin behind it(!). Here's how It's starting.:
There are at least 2 reasonable answers to the allegations that a group of high-ranked Ukrainian officials have extorted $100 million from contracts to repair and defend their country's critical energy infrastructure, even though Russian attacks plunge the nation into darkness and cold. 1 is despair, the another is celebration. The second, although it may sound strange, is more logical.
This episode touches the point of why Ukrainians are fighting at all. The war began in 2014, after then president Viktor Yanukovych was overthrown by mass protests against the epic scale of his corruption and enslavement by Moscow. The graft was a binder that Kremlin He held...
So even if advanced officials in Zelenski's government were caught red-handed by an interior investigation in Ukraine, the final responsibility lies with Moscow, according to any MSM accounts.
It should be remembered that only a fewer months ago Zelenski himself was at the centre of EU force and controversy erstwhile he tried to destruct the independency of the NABU, causing outrage in Brussels any parts of Ukrainian society.
* * Oh, * *
As previously described in item by Remix News,Another manifestation of widespread corruption in Ukraine was the raid of Ukrainian safety forces on Timur Mindich's apartment, a businessman associated with president Volodymyr Zelenski. However, the oligarch left the country a fewer hours earlier, most likely after being informed by the informant.
The Ukrainian National Anti-corruption Office (NABU) claims that It is believed that $100 million was discharged due to "money laundering operation"and another colleagues were involved.
15-month investigation included 1,000 hours of wiretap and resulted in 70 raids.
There are many speculation reports that Mindich, who has close ties to Israel and just celebrated his birthday there, fled to Israel, but so far most media reports have not revealed his destination country.
In a statement, NABU indicated that respective people formed a criminal gang and built a "large-scale corruption plan to influence strategical enterprises in the public sector, in peculiar Energoatom".
The plan consisted of forcing Energoatom counterparties to pay bribes of about 10 to 15 percent of the contract value to avoid blocking payments for services or goods or any failure of supplier status.
NABU indicated that raids and arrests were part of an operation codenamed "Midas", and preliminary investigations began as early as 2024.
"Particular attention was paid to cryptocurrency. Most operations, including cash withdrawals, took place outside Ukraine. For example, during abroad delegations of representatives of state authorities and the management of state energy sector enterprises," NABU notes.
Deep ties of Zelenski to a possible fugitive
As a sign that Ukraine's affair with Zelenski may end, Kyiv Independent describes in item how profoundly Zelenski is connected with Mindlich, writing:
The 46-year-old Mindich is from Dniepr in central Ukraine. He is simply a movie maker and erstwhile business partner of Ukrainian oligarchy Ihora Kolomojski.
Apparently, he's connected to Israel. Mindich celebrated his birthday in Israel in September, returned to Ukraine in the mediate of October, and then left again for Israel - the sources of Ukrainian fact show.
Mindich is besides a longtime friend of Zelenski, with whom he co-owned the production company 4th 95, until Zelenski transferred his shares to partners after being elected president in 2019.
Mindich is besides co-owner Green household Ltd, a Cypriot company that co-founded movie companies in Russia.
Kolomojski said "Ukrainian Truth" in 2022 rMindich introduced him to Zelenski before he became president.
In 2019 Zelenski He rode An armored car supplied by Mindich, stated RFE/RL.
It is worth noting that Zelenski was in problem with the full European Union erstwhile he tried to destruct the independency of the NABU, which provoked outrage in Brussels. That was the first large-scale protests in the city since the outbreak of the war.. Zelenski was forced to withdraw, but an investigation into his co-worker may have played an crucial function in Zelenski's efforts to castrate NABU.
As part of the NABU investigation and the peculiar Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) published fragments of audio recordings on which you can see conversations of people utilizing the nicknames "Rakieta", "Tenor" and "Karlson". They discussed investments in the energy sector, bribe distribution and possible personnel changes in the Ministry of Energy and Enerhoatom itself.
According to reports from the "Ukrainian Truth" portal, Mindich is among the suspects, as well as Justice Minister Herman Haluszchenko, whose home has besides been searched. He previously served as Minister of Energy.
"An extraordinary gathering of the government was held this morning. It was decided to suspend Herman Hałuszczenko in his duties as Minister of Justice" – informed Swyridenko in communicationAcie.
President Volodymyr Zelenski referred to the substance in his evening speech, stressing the request to hold the guilty responsible.
"All effective measures to combat corruption are crucial. The certainty of punishment is necessary.
Enerhoatom presently has the largest share of energy production in Ukraine. Purity in this company is simply a priority," said Zelenski.
Already 3 out of 4 Ukrainians think Zelenski is guilty of corruption in the country. The second case will surely increase the force on his regime, which refuses to hold elections.
According to a survey conducted by the Foundation of Democratic Initiatives and Kiev global Institute of Sociology, with the support of the Prague civilian Society Centre, 77.6% of Ukrainian respondents blame the Ukrainian leader for endemic corruption.
It is worth noting that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has been under EU fire for refusing to decision forward on Ukraine's EU membership, despite the fact that it is full of corruption, is now active in the war with Russia and has long since abandoned democracy, including the cancellation of opposition parties, refused to hold elections and closed many media.
Russia enjoys mass raids
Russia realises how embarrassing the raids on Zelenski's co-worker are and how possibly they are dangerous for its further governments.
Vladimir Rogow, president of the Committee on the civilian Chamber of the Russian Federation, stated that "Mindich is 1 of Zelenski's main wallets, but not the only one. Now there is simply a wave of panic and fear in the surroundings of Zelenski. And for Zelenski himself, there are troublesome times coming".
He described "panic" within the Zelenski government and said that his surroundings now accuse NABU of cooperating with Russia.
"It'll look double funny. NABU is simply a purely American tool to control funds and combat Zelenski's excessive thieving appetites" – said Rogow.
Translated by Google Translator
source:https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolistic
