American Gas Non-Competitive Cost..EU Wants The Return Of RUSSIAN GAS! + MAJOR CASE OF CORRUPTION IN THE UKRAINE

 

THE HOME FRONT

Ukraine Anti-Corruption Agency Launches Probe Into Defense Chief Umerov.

Ukrainian authorities said a criminal probe has been launched into Defense Minister Rustem Umerov for his failure to comply with an order to extend the contract of the chief of the Defense Procurement Agency (AOZ), in what appears to be a burgeoning dispute over arms procurement procedures. Radio Liberty reports.

Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) on January 28 told RFE/RL it had launched the probe into the possible abuse of power or official position by Umerov due to his refusal to renew the contract of AOZ head Maryna Bezrukova and his dismissal of two members of its Supervisory Board.

NABU said the Umerov probe was initiated following a complaint filed by the Anti-Corruption Action Center (AntAC), a nongovernmental organization.

The news of the Umerov probe came hours after Ukraine's cabinet officially fired Deputy Defense Minister Dmytro Klimenkov as part of a shakeup of the Defense Ministry's procurement operations.

The moves highlight what is seen as a pressing need for management reform in a sector critical to Ukraine's defense as it fights to repel Russia's full-scale invasion launched nearly three years ago.

NABU said in a statement that the abuse of power or official position, if proven, is punishable by imprisonment for a term of three to six years, along with fines and other sanctions. It also stated that a suspect is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

---