The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) on 19 August announced a special operation to expose an organisation in which, according to law enforcement, current and former deputies of the Verkhovna Rada and senior officials of the Office of the President of Ukraine were involved. Among those linked to the investigation by Ukrainian media are the Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Iryna Mudra, deputy Vadym Stolar and former deputy Maksym Mykytas.
WHAT NABU AND SAPO SAID
According to data from NABU and SAPO, the organisation operated under the leadership of a current and a former deputy of the Verkhovna Rada, with the participation of senior officials of the Presidential Office and other individuals. Law enforcement reported carrying out investigative actions but initially did not disclose the names of the alleged participants.
Later, NABU reported the legalisation of UAH 150 million in cash. According to the investigation, the funds were intended to be used as bail for one of the figures in another investigation.
WHAT IRYNA MUDRA HAS TO DO WITH THIS
Information about investigative actions against Iryna Mudra was disseminated by Ukrainian media citing sources, and deputy Oleksii Honcharenko reported that searches were carried out at the home of the Deputy Head of the Presidential Office.
The reports also mention Vadym Stolar and Maksym Mykytas. Separately, Sense Bank is mentioned in connection with the payment of bail for the former Minister of Energy and Justice Herman Halushchenko, who had previously been a figure in a corruption suspicion case.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT MUDRA'S DISMISSAL
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on 19 August signed a decree dismissing Iryna Mudra from the post of Deputy Head of the Presidential Office. No reason was given in the document.
Neither Zelensky nor Mudra has publicly commented on the decision.
WHAT THE PUBLISHED RECORDINGS CONTAIN
Specific claims about the mechanics of the alleged scheme were disseminated by Anatoliy Shariy, citing recordings of conversations published by NABU. In particular, he claims that the discussion concerned the legalisation of UAH 150 million for the purpose of paying bail.
In the excerpt of the conversation published by Shariy, a voice attributed to Iryna Mudra says: "Corruption needs to be systematised and controlled, not fought against." The interlocutor replies: "and led."
NABU and SAPO have stated that additional details of the special operation will be made public at a later date.
