Journalist Nikolov accused Zelenskyy of shielding law enforcement mafia: "He is sending signal to entire system: ’I remain silent, and so must you be’". VIDEO
Investigative journalist Yurii Nikolov has accused President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of covering up the scandal surrounding alleged corrupt links between SSU staff and drug cartels and call centres.
According to Censor.NET, in his video address, the journalist stated that the president has not commented on the situation for the second day running, despite having the opportunity to address the public through numerous media platforms.
"For the second day running, Ukraine’s most popular blogger, who has access to all media platforms, has been as silent as a grave. And he won’t utter a word about corrupt SSU officers, the drug cartel or call centres," Nikolov stated.
In the journalist’s view, the president’s silence could be interpreted by the law enforcement system as an instruction not to raise this issue.
"In doing so, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is both our President of civilian Ukraine and the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine at war, is sending a signal to the entire system: ‘I am silent – and so must you be’," he emphasised.
Nikolov compared this behaviour to the ‘omerta’, that is, the code of silence characteristic of the Italian Mafia.
"The main thing is not to give up your own. And that raises the question: who, then, are ‘our own’?" the journalist concluded.
NABU's Operation "Carthage"
- NABU earlier reported that a senior Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) official was threatening to use a weapon and obstructing a search.
- The Bureau subsequently said that NABU and SAPO had exposed a criminal organization that systematically bribed senior SSU, National Police, and prosecution officials to provide "protection" for fraudulent call centers and other illegal businesses.
- NABU said that the "Carthage" investigation had exposed a criminal organization whose members had arranged systematic bribes to senior law enforcement officials to ensure the unhindered operation of fraudulent call centers and other illegal businesses.
- It was subsequently reported that anti-corruption authorities had detained General Serhii Duka, first deputy head of the SSU's Department for the Protection of National Statehood.
- SSU chief Oleksandr Poklad dismissed two senior Service officials implicated in NABU's investigation under Operation "Carthage." He also suggested that a suspect in the case known as "Mexican" return to Ukraine and surrender to law enforcement.
- NABU and SAPO named five suspects in providing cover for illegal businesses. Those implicated include senior Security Service of Ukraine and National Police officials.
