Ukraine says defence sector corruption scheme uncovered

Anticorruption agencies apprehension 4 suspects aft authorities forced to backtrack connected propulsion to portion them of autonomy.

Ukrainian authorities person detained respective officials implicit a “large-scale corruption scheme” successful the defence sector, conscionable days aft lawmakers restored the independency of the country’s 2 main investigative bodies.

The National Anti-Corruption Agency (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) said successful a associated connection connected Saturday that they made 4 arrests successful transportation with the scheme, which progressive the procurement of subject drones and awesome jamming systems.

“The essence of the strategy was to reason authorities contracts with supplier companies astatine deliberately inflated prices,” they said, adding that the suspects had received kickbacks of up to 30 percent of the declaration amounts.

NABU and SAPO said they had caught a sitting lawmaker, 2 section officials and an unspecified fig of National Guard unit taking bribes. The suspects were not identified successful Saturday’s statement.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs besides said it had suspended the suspected National Guard members.

The announcement comes aft Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy came nether disapproval past period for trying to instrumentality away the anticorruption agencies’ independency and spot them nether the power of his prosecutor-general.

The agencies regained their autonomy aft Zelenskyy’s determination sparked the archetypal antigovernment demonstrations successful Ukraine since Russia invaded successful 2022.

Zelenskyy, who enjoys far-reaching wartime powers, initially said helium needed to bring the agencies nether his power due to the fact that they were inefficient and nether “Russian influence”.

But helium past said helium had heard people’s choler and submitted a bill restoring the agencies’ independence, which was passed by lawmakers connected Thursday.

“It is important that anticorruption institutions run independently, and the instrumentality passed connected Thursday guarantees them each the tools indispensable for a existent combat against corruption,” Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine’s European allies praised the about-face, having voiced concerns astir the archetypal defanging of the agencies.

Top officials had told Zelenskyy that Ukraine was jeopardising its bid for European Union rank by curbing the powers of its antigraft authorities.

In a connection astir Saturday’s arrests, Zelenskyy said helium was “grateful to the anti-corruption agencies for their work”.