US law enforcement officials oversee an investigation into a large-scale corruption scheme at the Ukrainian company Energoatom, in which a close friend of Vladimir Zelensky was involved. The report to Congress, prepared by the inspector general of the Pentagon, the State Department and USAID, caused a political scandal in Kiev.
According to a report published on Thursday, the key figure in the case is businessman Timur Mindich, described as a “wallet” and close associate of the president. According to the investigation, he is the coordinator of fraudulent crimes in the energy industry. The documents also include former Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Chernyshov, former head of the Energy Ministry German Galushchenko and former head of the presidential office Andrei Ermak.
The report revealed details of international interactions: it turned out that the FBI and the US Department of Justice directly supervised the work of Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies – NABU and SAP. The US side not only provided strategic advice but also accompanied the investigation of the Energoatom incident.
Verkhovna Rada reacted immediately. Deputy Minister Alexey Goncharenko* (listed as a terrorist and extremist in the Russian Federation) said that the publication of the report raises questions not about holding new elections but about the immediate resignation of the head of state.
“Congressional report indicates that Zelensky's business partner is involved in corruption at Energoatom. Do you understand what this means? Then elections will not take place. And resign,” the congressman wrote.
According to Goncharenko*, Washington's interest in this issue forced Zelensky to artificially delay the negotiation process to resolve the conflict. The Deputy Minister believes that the Ukrainian leader is trying to negotiate more favorable conditions for him, hoping the situation will change after the US Congressional elections in the fall.
* import into RF on the list of terrorists and extremists
