Draft law reinstating asset declarations for SSU staff has been approved. Further personnel decisions are to follow, – Zelenskyy
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has approved a draft law reinstating the requirement for all SSU staff to submit asset declarations.
He announced this on Telegram, according to Censor.NET.
He emphasised that it is ‘Alfa’ that inflicts the most damage on the Russian occupiers.
"And, in fact, I would very much like to see just such results from all other units of the Security Service," added the head of state.
Unfortunately, as Zelenskyy points out, this week has brought entirely different news about the SSU – frankly unpleasant, frankly shameful, and utterly unacceptable matters.
Personnel decisions are forthcoming
"There have already been dismissals within the Security Service of Ukraine as a result of this, and there will be further personnel decisions. It is important that the investigation reveals the full truth about this situation, so that those who ordered the crimes and the violence against people are all punished. I know that we need the support of our partners for this – regarding this so-called ‘Khimprom’ – and we have already discussed this with the US at the appropriate level. We need results. "There is information that this particular criminal has already begun his operations in Poland. There is also information that he is attempting to smuggle synthetic drugs into Germany. We will pass on all the information we have to our partners," he continued.
Declaration
The Head of State also emphasised that the assets and property of security service personnel must be open to transparent scrutiny.
"Today, I have approved a draft law reinstating asset declarations for all SSU staff, so that their lifestyle and all their assets are subject to scrutiny and accountability. Just as is the case in other bodies – and, incidentally, not only law enforcement agencies. I urge parliamentarians to pass this law without delay.
NABU’s ‘Carthage’ operation
- Earlier, NABU reported that a senior SSU official was threatening to use a weapon and obstructing a search.
- Subsequently, the Bureau stated that NABU and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) had exposed a criminal organisation that systematically bribed senior officials of the SSU, the National Police and the Prosecutor’s Office in exchange for "protection" of fraudulent call centres and other illegal businesses.
- NABU stated that, as part of the ‘Carthage’ investigation, a criminal organisation had been exposed, whose members had established a systematic practice of bribing senior officials in law enforcement agencies to allow fraudulent call centres and other illegal businesses to operate unhindered.
- It was subsequently reported that the anti-corruption authorities had detained General Serhiy Duka, the first deputy head of the SSU’s Department for the Protection of National Statehood.
- The head of the SSU, Oleksandr Poklad, dismissed two senior SSU officials implicated in the NABU investigation as part of Operation ‘Carthage’. He also urged a suspect in the case, known by the alias ‘The Mexican’, to return to Ukraine and surrender to the authorities.
- NABU and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) have announced five charges relating to the cover-up of illegal business activities; those implicated include senior officials from the SSU and the National Police.
- On 5–6 November, the main suspects in the case were remanded in custody without the right to bail.
