Eight people mentioned in Operation ’Carthage’ have been dismissed. Twenty-four prosecutors have undergone polygraph tests, - Acting Prosecutor General Kovalskyi
A number of posts have been abolished at the Office of the Prosecutor General, and eight individuals mentioned in connection with Operation ‘Carthage’ have been dismissed. A further 24 prosecutors have undergone polygraph tests, whilst a personnel audit at the Office of the Prosecutor General and regional prosecutor’s offices is ongoing.
This was announced on Facebook by Acting Prosecutor General Anton Kovalskyi, according to Censor.NET.
Results
According to Kovalskyi, he held working meetings with the heads of departments within the Office of the Prosecutor General and regional prosecutor’s offices, analysed their work and conducted a personnel audit.
"Today I can speak about the initial results. The main point is this: the prosecution service cannot hold others to account if it is not prepared to hold itself to account. The prosecution service continues to operate and fulfil the functions entrusted to it. There are professional teams, results and sound practices.
However, where there are concerns regarding integrity, the quality of management or the accountability of leaders, appropriate decisions must be taken. I understand the public demand for measures to be taken by the Office of the Prosecutor General in connection with the circumstances being investigated as part of Operation ‘Carthage’," explained the Acting Prosecutor General.
"Carthage"
"The internal investigation into Aidyn Khudiev, former deputy head of the OGP department, has been completed. The findings will be forwarded to the Qualification and Disciplinary Commission. The post he held has been abolished.
An internal investigation has been launched and is ongoing into the former Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko’s trip abroad. We are verifying compliance with established procedures and the circumstances surrounding the organisation of the business trip," said Kovalskyi.
An internal investigation is also ongoing into Serhii Kropyva, Deputy Head of the Department of International Cooperation at the General Prosecutor’s Office, who was detained in connection with the ‘Carthage’ case. The investigation is examining the circumstances surrounding his use of official powers for private gain and possible interference in the official duties of other prosecutors.
A disciplinary complaint from the General Inspectorate of the Office of the Prosecutor General is currently under consideration by the Disciplinary Committee. The post he held has been abolished.
Prosecutors underwent polygraph tests
"Another important area is internal security. A total of 24 prosecutors underwent polygraph testing. The information obtained has been forwarded to the commission conducting the internal investigation.
During this period, eight individuals mentioned in connection with Operation ‘Carthage’ were dismissed from the prosecution service. Seven of them worked at the Office of the Prosecutor General. Four were dismissed from administrative posts, including the head of the Department of Information Technology and the head of the Directorate for Combating Criminal Offences in the Field of Cybersecurity.
The deputy head of the Cherkasy Regional Prosecutor’s Office was also dismissed from his administrative post. Following this, the post was abolished," noted the acting Prosecutor General.
Restructuring of the Prosecutor General’s Office
"The Department for Combating Criminal Offences in the Field of Cybersecurity has been abolished. The Department for Oversight of Compliance with the Law by Bodies Combating Organised Crime and for Investment Protection has been reorganised – the area of investment protection has been separated into a distinct unit.
The heads of these units have been dismissed from their posts. New heads have also been appointed to the Department of International Cooperation and the Department of Organisational and Control Activities, Legal and Analytical Support," added Kovalskyi.
Personnel appointments
According to the acting Prosecutor General, a decision was taken not to make use of the option to appoint, without a competitive selection process, individuals who were not holding the post of prosecutor at the time of appointment.
"This procedure is provided for by law. At the same time, I believe it is right to assess the practice of its application and the appointments already made under it.
We are therefore conducting a personnel audit of appointments to administrative posts within the Office of the Prosecutor General and regional prosecutor’s offices. I do not question the legality of the procedure itself. However, every appointment must be justified in terms of the individual’s professionalism, experience and suitability for the post," he explained.
For instance, at the General Prosecutor’s Office, the head of a department and the head of a division within one of the departments have been dismissed from their posts. In regional and district prosecutor’s offices, 16 prosecutors have been dismissed from administrative posts, including the heads of the Vyshhorod District Prosecutor’s Office in Kyiv Oblast and the Vyzhnytsia District Prosecutor’s Office in Chernivtsi Oblast.
Orders have also been issued for the dismissal of the deputy heads of the Khmelnytskyi and Volyn regional prosecutor’s offices.
The audit is currently ongoing.
The acting Prosecutor General has also decided to dismiss the heads of the Kharkiv and Volyn regional prosecutor’s offices from their administrative posts.
