President Zelensky Confirms Anyone Involved In Corruption Must Be Punished

President Zelensky. (President.gov..ua)

JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that anyone involved in corruption would be held accountable and sentenced, highlighting cases that occurred in the country's energy sector.

"Everyone who drafts a corruption scheme must receive a clear legal response. There must be a criminal decision," President Zelensky said in his evening video address, commenting on the investigation into the bribery scheme in Ukraine's energy sector.

"The inevitable punishment is needed," he said.

The Ukrainian National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) previously announced it was conducting a special operation to uncover corruption in the energy sector.

According to the bureau, members of criminal organizations developed extensive corruption schemes to influence state-owned strategic companies, including Energoatom, according to Ukrinform.

The group's main activities involve systematically collecting illegal payments from Energoatom contractors, ranging from 10 percent to 15 percent of the contract value.

"Energoatoms currently supply Ukraine with the largest power plant share. Hygiene within the company is a priority. Like in the energy sector and every industry," said President Zelensky.

"Everyone who has built a corruption scheme must face a clear procedural response. There must be punishment. And government officials must cooperate with NABU and law enforcement agencies, doing so in a way that gives tangible results," he stressed.

Sources at law enforcement agencies told Ukrinform that in the early hours of November 10, NABU conducted a search at the businessman's premises and one of the owners of Kvartal 95, Tymur Mindich, and Justice Minister German Galushchenko, who previously served as energy minister.