Ukraine Suspends Justice Minister Over Energy-sector Graft Probe
Ukraine’s government on Wednesday suspended Justice Minister, German Galushchenko as authorities widen an investigation into alleged corruption linked to state energy contracts, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said.
The move follows a series of anti-corruption operations that have prompted public outrage and intensified scrutiny of officials who previously managed critical energy portfolios.
The inquiry, led by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) with support from prosecutors, centers on an alleged kickback network tied to contracts at Energoatom, the country’s state nuclear power company.
Investigators say the scheme involved sizable illicit commissions on contract values figures reported by news agencies approach $100 million and has prompted dozens of searches and several formal suspicions and arrests. Some of the individuals under investigation are reported to have close business and political links, fueling anger as Ukrainians continue to face disruptions to power supplies.
Galushchenko, who previously served in a senior energy role, has not been officially indicted but was named in questioning by anti-corruption investigators, according to officials.
The prime minister described his temporary removal from duties as a necessary step to ensure an impartial inquiry and to preserve public trust while probes continue.
Galushchenko said he would cooperate with investigators and defend his reputation through the legal process.
The scandal has reverberated through Kyiv’s political landscape, with opposition figures and some lawmakers demanding firings and broader cabinet accountability.
Lawmakers and anti-graft campaigners say the case exposes persistent vulnerabilities in procurement and oversight at a time when Ukraine is seeking to demonstrate adherence to European standards and retain international support during its conflict with Russia. Analysts warn the episode could complicate Kyiv’s efforts to attract foreign assistance unless it shows tangible progress on governance and rule-of-law reforms.
Among those publicly linked to the investigation is businessman Timur Mindich, described in reporting as a former associate of high-level political circles; some accounts say he has left the country.
Authorities say they are tracing financial flows and examining whether contracted firms paid illegal commissions to intermediaries. Officials insist the probe will follow the evidence wherever it leads, and President Volodymyr Zelensky’s administration has reiterated a pledge to tackle corruption even as it confronts wartime pressures.
The suspension marks one of the most prominent developments in Ukraine’s anti-corruption efforts in recent months and is likely to dominate political debate in Kyiv in the near term as investigators continue searches and question additional suspects.
