EU urges Kyiv to act swiftly after energy corruption case explodes
The corruption scandal shaking Ukraine’s energy sector is “deeply regrettable", says Kaja Kallas (Photo: REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez)
The corruption scandal shaking Ukraine’s energy sector is “deeply regrettable,” and it is crucial that Kyiv takes it seriously, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said, Reuters wrote on Nov. 12.
“They [Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies] are working very hard. There is no place for corruption, especially now. This is literally the people’s money, which should go to the front line,” Kallas said.
She added that it is vital for the Ukrainian authorities to continue fighting corruption rapidly and take this case very seriously.
Operation Midas
On Nov. 10, NABU detectives carried out searches targeting businessman Tymur Mindich, Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko (formerly Minister of Energy), and the state-owned company Energoatom.
NABU said that, together with SAPO, it was conducting a “large-scale operation to expose corruption in the energy sector.” Investigators documented the activities of a “high-level criminal organization” led by a “well-known businessman,” which allegedly built an extensive kickback scheme influencing Energoatom’s operations and demanding 10–15% cuts from contractors in exchange for unblocking payments.
The officers later published a series of audio recordings allegedly capturing conversations about money laundering, mentioning Minister Halushchenko and possibly Mindich, with participants using nicknames.
On Nov. 11, NABU announced the arrest of five suspects in the Midas case and identified several of them by their codenames:
a businessman — head of the criminal organization (“Karlson”)
a former adviser to the Minister of Energy (“Rocket”)
an executive director for physical protection and security at Energoatom (“Tenor”)
four individuals from a “back office” responsible for money laundering.
Additionally, a former deputy prime minister, reportedly Oleksii Chernyshov, was also charged.
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