Ukrainian authorities are in the middle of widespread anti-corruption raids ahead of a visit from European Union leaders as President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to crack down on long-standing graft in the country.
Dozens of searches were conducted on Wednesday, only two days before Zelensky is set to host EU leaders to discuss various issues. In a statement, the Security Service of Ukraine, known as the SBU, said that the widespread raids targeted individuals whose actions are believed to harm the security of the state in various aspects.
Anti-Corruption Raids in Ukraine
In a separate message, the SBU said that it uncovered a plan that sought to embezzle more than $1 billion at the state-owned Ukrnafta oil company and an oil-refining company through tax evasion and other devious tactics.
Vasyl Malyuk, the head of the Ukrainian security service, said in a statement that the raids were part of the president's anti-corruption efforts. They added that the recent searches are only the first stage of the complex and systematic work that the security service is working on, as per the New York Times.
The raids came a day after the Ukrainian president announced that he would soon make more personnel changes within his government after several dismissals in the last few days. Zelensky said on Tuesday that they were preparing new reforms that would change the country's social, legal, and political reality in many ways.
Recent raids appeared at least partially conducted to show EU officials that Kyiv is committed to controlling chronic corruption within the country. The Ukrainian president previously filed a request for his nation to join the EU in the early stages of the war. That set off a series of negotiations that required Kyiv to change its legal, political, and economic system and crack down on corruption.
EU members officially granted Ukraine its states as a candidate for membership in June, but the process to join could extend up to a decade. Zelensky's government, on January 24, observed a rash of officials, including the country's deputy defense minister, either be removed from office or voluntarily resign.
Ensuring Legitimacy
Authorities who conducted the raids discovered stashes of cash and luxury cars and watches. According to CNN, officials involved in the searches include the head of the Kyiv tax authority, who is thought to be a part of a scheme to overlook $1.2 billion in unpaid taxes.
On Wednesday, the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) found the stashes of cash and luxury items at the tax chief's residence. The SBU said that the raids are being conducted to fight against what they called "the internal enemy" of Ukraine.
Another individual targeted by the searches is Ukrainian billionaire Ihor Kolomoisky, one of the country's wealthiest men. Furthermore, the home of former interior minister Arsen Avakov was also raided by authorities as part of the efforts.
In a Wednesday address, Zelensky said that the raids were necessary to ensure that officials do not abuse power. He added that in some spheres, the only way to ensure legitimacy is by changing leaders and implementing institutional changes, said BBC.
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