Wakil Menteri Ditangkap Terkait Dugaan Briap, Presiden Zelensky Melakukan Perhambakan Pejabat

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (Source: President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said an official reshuffle was being carried out at senior and lower levels, a move that has followed corruption allegations since Russia's invasion nearly a year ago.

On Sunday, anti-corruption police said they detained a deputy infrastructure minister on suspicion of accepting a USD 400,000 bribe for imports of the generator last September, a charge the minister denies.

Separately, newspaper investigations accused the Ministry of Defense of paying more to suppliers for army food. The supplier said it had made a technical mistake and no money had changed hands.

"There has been a personnel decision - in recent days, a few tomorrow - regarding officials at various levels in other central government ministries and structures, as well as in the regions and law enforcement," President Zelensky said in his evening video address on Monday. January 24th.

The president said part of the crackdown would involve tighter surveillance while traveling abroad for official duty. Ukrainian media reported that cabinet ministers and senior officials could be fired, as President Zelensky tried to streamline the government.

One of the president's key allies previously said corrupt officials would be "active" in prison, establishing a zero-tolerance approach after the allegations came to light.

Ukraine has a long history of corruption and shaky government, although there have been examples since last year's invasion, as Kyiv has sought financial and Western military support to help fight Russian forces.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau said it was aware of media reports and was investigating possible crimes of confiscation of funds or abuse of power in connection with the procurement of more than 13 billion hryvnia (US$352 million).

David Arakhamia, chairman of the Servant of the People Party, President Zelensky's home party, said that since Russia's invasion had been clarified, officials should "focus on war, help victims, cut bureaucracy, and stop doubtful businesses".

"Many of them received the message. But unfortunately many of them are not. We will definitely imprison actively this spring. If a human approach doesn't work, we will do it in line with a military emergency," he explained.

Meanwhile, Timofiy Mylovanov, former minister of economy, trade and agriculture, praised the government's "proactive and very fast" response to the allegations. He said deputy infrastructure ministers were soon fired and showed a "unprecedented" level of public attention in the matter.

Ukraine, whose economy shrank a third of last year, relies heavily on Western financial assistance and donors such as the International Monetary Fund IMF), with the European Union having repeatedly requested better transparency and governance.