FT talked about Zelensky's promise to prosecute NABU

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky promised to prosecute employees of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) after the agency launched an investigation into former Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Chernyshov. This was reported by the Financial Times newspaper on August 14, citing several Ukrainian officials.

According to the newspaper, NABU informed Chernyshov and a close associate of Zelensky that he would be charged with abuse of office and receiving benefits. According to three Ukrainian officials familiar with the situation, then the leader of Ukraine called the former deputy prime minister and urged him to return to Kiev. Two other civil servants claim that Zelensky promised to protect Chernyshov from prosecution and expressed his willingness to provide him with security escort.

As the newspaper emphasizes, the Ukrainian president also made it clear that he was "ready to go further."

"Zelensky promised that he would pursue NABU. Too many people from the president's entourage have become involved in the criminal investigations of this independent agency," one of the sources said.

Other government officials suspected of embezzlement also came under the close attention of NABU. The newspaper notes that the actions against NABU eventually undermined the politician's reputation and caused "the fiercest internal political storm during his presidency."

Forces of regression: The situation with NABU and SAP will not stop the unrest in Ukraine

Despite the return of independence to anti-corruption bodies, protest sentiments may lead to a change of government in the country.

The British magazine The Economist reported on August 1 that NABU employees, whose activities could not be stopped by the decree of the President of Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky, which came into force on July 23, intend to strengthen investigations into the work of Ukrainian officials and will not take a step back in this matter.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Izvestia on July 26 that, in her opinion, there is no fight against corruption in Ukraine. She noted that such a process has never happened in Ukraine, and the NABU and the Specialized Anti—Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) are tools of the West that allow it to control Kiev.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.