KYIV: Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies announced on Saturday that they have uncovered a significant bribery scheme involving the purchase of military drones and signal jamming systems at inflated prices.
This revelation comes just two days after the parliament restored the independence of these agencies following widespread protests.
The independence of Ukraine’s key anti-corruption bodies, NABU and SAPO, was reinstated on Thursday after parliament reversed a decision that had sparked the country’s largest demonstrations since the 2022 Russian invasion.
In a joint statement on social media, NABU and SAPO revealed that a current lawmaker, two local officials, and several members of the national guard were involved in accepting bribes. The individuals have not been publicly named.
The agencies explained that the corrupt scheme involved awarding state contracts to suppliers at deliberately inflated prices, with kickbacks amounting to up to 30% of the contract value. Four suspects have been detained so far.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned the corruption, emphasizing the need for zero tolerance, effective cooperation in uncovering wrongdoing, and appropriate sentencing. “There can only be zero tolerance for corruption, clear teamwork to expose corruption and, as a result, a just sentence,” he said via Telegram.
Zelenskiy, who holds broad wartime powers and enjoys strong public support, faced rare nationwide protests after attempting to place NABU and SAPO under the control of his prosecutor-general. Responding to public outcry, he reversed course and submitted legislation restoring the agencies’ independence, which was swiftly approved by parliament.
The move received praise from European allies, who had warned that limiting the agencies’ powers could threaten Ukraine’s European Union membership prospects. European officials had urged Zelenskiy to maintain the agencies’ autonomy to ensure a credible fight against corruption.
Following a meeting with the agency heads, Zelenskiy reaffirmed the importance of independent anti-corruption institutions, noting that the recent law “guarantees them every opportunity for a real fight against corruption.”
(Inputs from Reuters)
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