Ukraine raided the tycoon’s home and tax office during the war
KYIV, February 1 (Reuters) – Ukraine power on Wednesday the president In what an ally of Vladimir Zelensky presented as a sweeping crackdown on corruption that would transform the country, the home of an influential billionaire was raided.
of Ukraine European Union Two days before hosting the summit with the Tax Office and former interior minister Arsen Avakov’s house was raided separately and new Customs Service chief has been appointed. after years of chronic corruption.
Ukraine Friday’s summit is vital to hopes of joining the rich bloc, a goal more pressing after Russia’s invasion and the resignation or dismissal of more than a dozen officials last week. political began to shake.
Security officials of Ukraine one of its richest men and a one-time ally of Zelensky businessman They searched Ihor Kolomoisky’s house and said that a number of media organizations were investigating possible financial crimes.
Latest UpdatesUnited Kingdom CategoryUK Teachers and Civil Servants Join Mass Strike on ‘Walking Wednesday’ Article with GalleryGalleryEurope CategoryFrance labour despite mass protests, the minister pension says increasing age is ‘unspeakable’, article with gallery
See 2 more stories
Ukraine The Security Service (SBU) later arrested Kolomoysky’s part-owned oil producer Ukrnafta and Ukrtatnafta oil refinery 1 billion said that he uncovered the scheme of embezzlement of more than 100,000 dollars.
Social photographs circulated in the media show Kolomoisky dressed in a tracksuit and watched by at least one SBU officer inside a large wooden house. Reuters could not immediately verify the authenticity of the images.
Kolomoisky could not be contacted. He has any before law denied the violation.
David Arakhamia, a senior member of Zelensky’s Servant of the People party, said that Customs The entire leadership of the service is set to be fired, and suspicious notifications have been delivered to senior defense ministry officials.
“The country will change during the war,” Arakhamia said in the Telegram messaging program. If someone is not ready for change, then the state will come and help them change.”
The government later Customs Serhiy Zvyahintsev, deputy head of the service, is temporarily his chief duty execution he said he would.
ZELENSKY PROMISES NEW REFORMS
of Ukraine its long-running fight against corruption has become vital as Russia’s occupation has made Kiev heavily dependent on Western support and reforms to join the 27-nation EU.
Zelensky the first major of the war since last week’s outcry over a corruption scandal involving an army food contract political led the shakedown.
Zelensky that more personnel decisions are ready on Tuesday and sociallegal and political he said that there will be “new reforms” that will affect reality.
He is on an anti-corruption ticket in 2019 the president was elected and at the end of 2021 began repression against wealthy businessmen known as “oligarchs”.
The publication “Ukrainska Pravda” reported that the search of Kolomoysky’s property was related to the investigation into embezzlement of oil products and evasion of payment of customs duties.
Past interior minister Avakov said that on January 18 interior minister His house was searched as part of the investigation into the helicopter crash that killed 14 people, including Denis Monastyrski.
According to him, the investigators conducted an investigation into the acquisition of the Airbus helicopter model that crashed six years ago, but “nothing relevant to the investigation was found.”
Report by Olena Harmash; Written by Tom Balmforth; Edited by Timothy Heritage
Our standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
2023-02-01 18:15:39
Source – reuters
Translation“24 HOURS”