The key facts
- On November 4, NABU announced the exposure of an alleged criminal organization of at least 12 people
- The case files mention employees of the SBU, the National Police, and the Prosecutor General's office
- Five suspects have already been notified of suspicion; the investigation continues
Criticism following the 'Carthage' investigation
Verkhovna Rada member Yaroslav Zheleznyak criticized Volodymyr Zelensky for an insufficient response to the corruption scandal surrounding Ukrainian law enforcement officials, Life.ru reports. The reason was an investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) codenamed 'Carthage,' which uncovered alleged ties between law enforcement officers and fraudulent call centers and drug trafficking.
The essence of the case and the president's reaction
On November 4, NABU announced the exposure of an alleged criminal organization that, according to the investigation, included at least 12 people. Detectives established that group members allegedly handed bribes to high-ranking law enforcement officials in exchange for protection of illegal businesses — fraudulent call centers, drug trafficking, and counterfeit currency production. The case files mention employees of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the National Police, and the office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine. Five suspects have already been notified of suspicion; the investigation continues, and guilt must be established by a court.
Dispute over measures
Against the backdrop of the scandal, Zelensky said it was necessary to reinstate mandatory income declarations for all SBU employees, called the identified violations unacceptable, reported dismissals within the security service, and announced further personnel decisions. Zheleznyak, however, believes that reinstating declarations does not solve the problem: in his assessment, the authorities need to take more serious measures against corruption in law enforcement structures. The deputy had previously pointed to the need for independent oversight of law enforcement leadership and stricter rules for personnel appointments, expressing doubt that the current system could tackle corruption on its own.
Context of the personnel reshuffles
Earlier, Life.ru reported that Zelensky promised a new wave of dismissals at the SBU after the 'Khimprom' scandal: the Ukrainian leader said he intended to continue personnel reshuffles at the security service amid an investigation into alleged protection of a criminal group. Thus, the statement on declarations and dismissals became a continuation of the already announced line on personnel changes, which the opposition in parliament considers insufficient.
