Ukraine Suspends Justice Minister in Energoatom Graft Probe

Ukraine's government suspended Justice Minister German Galushchenko on Wednesday amid a major corruption investigation into an alleged 100 million kickback scheme targeting the state-owned nuclear energy company Energoatom. The probe, led by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office, has implicated high-level officials and a close associate of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, drawing sharp criticism at a time when the country grapples with widespread power outages from Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure.

The investigation, ongoing for 15 months, centers on accusations that a criminal group manipulated procurement processes at Energoatom and other state enterprises to extract illegal commissions of 10 to 15 percent from contractors. Authorities allege the scheme involved forcing suppliers to pay bribes to secure contracts or avoid payment delays, with funds laundered through various channels. Five individuals were detained earlier this week, while seven others were identified as suspects and eight faced charges including bribery, abuse of office, and possession of disproportionate assets. Among those charged is Timur...