Kiev, Nov 11, (dpa/GNA) – A corruption investigation into the Ukrainian state nuclear company Energoatom, continued on Tuesday with searches of premises, relevant to former energy minister, German Galushchenko.
He has been justice minister since July, and the justice ministry in Kiev confirmed the measures.
“The minister is fully supporting the law enforcement authorities to ensure a comprehensive, objective and unbiased investigation,” the ministry said in a statement.
The justice ministry “adheres to the principle of zero tolerance towards corruption.” No details of possible allegations were mentioned.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) of Ukraine, disclosed an investigation at Energoatom on Monday.
The probe concerns bribes that are alleged to have been paid during the construction of protective devices around energy facilities, against Russian air attacks.
On Tuesday, NABU spoke of five arrests and seven suspected cases. The group is said to have laundered around $100 million in bribes.
The traces also lead to a confidant and business partner of President Volodymyr Zelensky, from his time as an actor.
From his flat in the government district of Kiev, the main suspect was said to have influenced state decisions “in the energy and defence sectors” in his own interests. The man is said to have left Ukraine.
Zelensky demanded that the guilty should be sentenced, regardless of who they are.
GNA