President Zelenskyy Seeks Immediate Dismissal of Ukraine's Prosecutor General Amid Graft Conflict
5 sources across 4 countries · Latvia · Ukraine · United Kingdom · United States
Who reported this
- Meduza
- Novaya Gazeta Europe
- Kyiv Independent
- Reuters
- Bloomberg
What the colours mean
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- Centre-left
- Centre
- Centre-right
- Right
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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a decree to suspend Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko and submitted a motion to parliament for his formal dismissal. The move follows a public clash between the Prosecutor General's Office and Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies. Lawmakers are expected to vote on the dismissal on September 15.
Ruslan Kravchenko, who submitted his resignation on September 7, released a video address on September 14 claiming he had approved charges against Semen Kryvonos, the head of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU). Kravchenko accused Kryvonos of falsifying official documents for illicit benefit and engaging in a sham adoption to avoid court liability. He also alleged that a person close to Oleksandr Klymenko, head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), was involved in influencing judges and evading mobilization.
Semen Kryvonos and NABU denied that any formal charges had been served. NABU and SAPO characterized Kravchenko's accusations as a vendetta and a systematic attack on the independence of anti-corruption agencies. They stated that the charges are public statements rather than legal procedures.
The conflict stems from an operation called Carthage, conducted by NABU and SAPO, which involved searches of the Prosecutor General's Office. The investigation targeted an alleged criminal group that protected fraudulent call centers to launder money. While NABU suggested the group operated in the interest of Kravchenko, the Prosecutor General denied involvement and claimed the operation was a pretext to steal case files and remove him from power.
Reports indicate that Kravchenko left Ukraine by car on September 14. While some sources describe this as fleeing the country, Kravchenko stated he is on an official trip to inform international partners about the risks posed by the influence of anti-corruption agencies. Sources close to the president told media that Kravchenko acted without coordination and had lost his mind.
How each side framed it
- Centre-left
- These outlets highlighted the chaotic nature of the conflict and included more critical quotes from the president's circle regarding the prosecutor's mental state.
- Centre
- These outlets focused on the procedural details of the legal charges and the official timeline of the dismissal.
Sources
- Centre Bloomberg: Zelenskyy Calls on Chief Prosecutor to Quit in Ukraine Graft Row
- Centre Kyiv Independent: Update: Top anti-corruption official denies being formally charged by disgraced prosecutor
- Centre-left Meduza: Ukraine’s prosecutor general accuses anti-corruption chief of falsifying documents and stealing case files. ‘He’s lost his mind,’ sources in Zelensky’s circle say.
- Centre-left Novaya Gazeta Europe: Prosecutor General of Ukraine, after searches in his agency, accused head of NABU of forging documents
- Centre Reuters: Zelenskiy wants swift exit of Ukraine's prosecutor general as graft clashes plague government - Reuters
100% of the statements in this article were traced back to the source articles listed above.