ALBAWABA - As part of a large investigation into corruption in Ukraine's energy sector, the country's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) has arrested former Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko.
Halushchenko was arrested while trying to cross the border, according to an official statement released on Sunday. Officials said that the investigation is going on quickly and in accordance with the law.
The case is about a supposed $100 million bribery scheme inside Ukraine's state nuclear energy agency. Investigators say that the operation involved high-ranking officials and businesspeople, including a former close friend of President Volodymyr Zelensky.
A Bigger Political Problem
The arrest happens during the ongoing "Midas" scandal, a political crisis that started in November and has already caused some high-level officials to quit. In the past few months, Ukraine's ministers of justice and energy have quit because they were thought to be involved in corrupt activities.
Andriy Yermak, the head of the Presidential Office and a key player in Ukraine's negotiations over the war with Russia, also quit in late November after investigators searched his home.
Recently, the investigation has grown to include members of parliament, former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, and a former presidential adviser on a number of charges.
Secret Investigation
NABU said that the current case is the result of a 15-month undercover operation. Tymur Mindych is at the center of the accusations. He is said to be a longtime friend and former business partner of President Zelensky.
According to investigators, Mindych ran a network that moved about $100 million through a so-called "back office" in Kyiv. They say he took advantage of the situation created by Russia's ongoing war with Ukraine.
In the last part of the investigation, anti-corruption officers worked together to raid places in Kyiv and other areas, taking cash and documents.
Pressure for Change
Fighting corruption is still one of Ukraine's most important reform goals, especially since the country wants to join the European Union. To join the EU, a country must show that it is making progress in the areas of accountability, transparency, and the rule of law.
