Security services complete investigation into ex-SBU chief, reports RFE/RL
Bakanov disappeared from the information field after his dismissal from the SBU (Photo:SBU)
Ukraine’s security services have completed their internal investigation into the activities of former SBU security service head Ivan Bakanov, U.S.-funded news outlet Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty(RFE/RL) reported on Feb. 7, citing Fedir Venislavskyi, a member of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence.
"Special procedures to check Bakanov have been completed," Venislavskyi said.
“I think that society will be informed about this when it is timely, because these are redacted verification materials, materials with limited access. Yesterday, we also received an answer about Bakanov's whereabouts. He is in Ukraine.”
He emphasized that the committee members "are admitted to all levels of state secrets, but cannot always speak [publicly about them].”
The MP did not provide any other details.
On July 17, 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suspended then SBU Bakanov from his duties. Two days later, the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, dismissed Bakanov with the wording "dereliction of duty that caused human casualties or other grave consequences”.
According to the head of Dnipro's territorial defense, Hennadiy Korban, this move by the Zelenskyy administration was connected to the detention of the former head of the SBU branch in Crimea, Oleh Kulinich, who was found to be working for Russia's security services.
According to Korban, Kulinich was fairly close to Bakanov.
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