Ukraine: New bribe scandal uncovered when buying drones

In Ukraine, anti-corruption fighters have uncovered a new bribe scandal in the procurement of weapons for the front. This time it is about contracts with drone producers who have been concluded at significantly excessive prices – to the damage of the Ukrainian state budget, as the authorities said in Kiev. According to this, there were four arrests – including the parliamentary deputy Olexij Kusnezow, who belongs to the Sluha Naroda party (in German: servant of the people) of the Ukrainian president. According to the party, the group affiliation was put on hold for the time of the investigation.

The allegations are also directed against public service employees at the urban level and against members of the National Guard. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko announced that the uniformed people were also suspended from duty. The suspects are said to have concluded contracts for the purchase of drones for the war at excessive prices and then collected 30 percent bribes.

The anti-corruption fighter also published photos of financial bundles. At first there was no information about the total damage for the state budget. In the past, there have always been corruption scandals in the past in armaments transactions, which has been defending itself against an invasion of Russia for a good three years.

President Wolodymyr Selenskyj was also informed about the investigation, who repeatedly promises a categorical struggle against corruption in the pursuit of an EU membership of Ukraine Brussels. “There can only be zero tolerance in the event of corruption, clear teamwork, to uncover the bribe-and ultimately fair judgments,” he said in his telegram channel. “It is important that the anti-corruption fighters work independently.” A law adopted on Thursday gives all opportunities.

Previously, Selenskyj had done the opposite and with another law had the anti-corruption fighter of the independent bodies of NABU and SAP of the Attorney General. After protests thousands of thousands in several cities and massive criticism of the EU, he kinked and had the new law to restore the independence of the anti-corruption authorities in parliament.

The EU has repeatedly asked for Ukraine to implement reforms in its pursuit of membership in the State Association. The country is still considered one of the most corrupt ever. In the current Corruption perception index of Transparency International, Ukraine is 105 out of 180 countries. Again and again western aid in the fight against the Russian attack war.