The Prime Minister of Ukraine, Yulia Svyrydenko, announced on the evening of November 12 that she had submitted a motion to the Verkhovna Rada for the dismissal of Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko and Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk. Both officials submitted their respective applications in accordance with legal requirements.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Investigation by anti-corruption agencies and government response
The names of Halushchenko and Hrynchuk are mentioned in an investigation conducted by the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau. The case involves the activities of a criminal organization that included both current and former officials in the energy sector, as well as a well-known businessman and other individuals. According to the investigation, this group organized a large-scale corruption scheme to influence strategic state-owned enterprises, including the State Enterprise “NAEK “Energoatom”.
“I submitted a motion to the Verkhovna Rada for the dismissal of Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko and Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk. The ministers submitted their applications in the manner prescribed by law,” Svyrydenko stated.
Details of the scandal and further steps
On the morning of November 12, Svyrydenko informed that the Cabinet of Ministers temporarily suspended Herman Halushchenko from performing the duties of Justice Minister. His responsibilities have been assigned to his deputy for European integration, Lyudmyla Suhak. Halushchenko himself supported the government’s decision, calling it a “civilized and correct scenario.”
Earlier that same day, President Volodymyr Zelensky also stated that the Ministers of Justice and Energy could not remain in their positions amid the investigation.
According to the NABU, the activities of the criminal organization involved systematically receiving unlawful benefits from the counterparties of “Energoatom,” amounting to between 10% and 15% of the contract sums. The money was laundered through a back office in central Kyiv, with the total amount of operations reaching approximately 100 million dollars.
The Verkhovna Rada has already registered draft resolutions regarding the dismissal of Herman Halushchenko from the position of Justice Minister and Svitlana Hrynchuk from the position of Energy Minister.
Svitlana Hrynchuk has currently refrained from commenting, stating that she “does not understand the claims.”