The Ukrainian President announces hunting for “collaborators” and “traitors”, while consolidating the position of the gray eminence Andriy Yermak, his chief of staff.
By and
In a rare and dramatic reshuffle, the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, dismissed two key figures from power in kyiv on Sunday, July 17, suspected of having at least ignored cases of collaboration and high betrayal for the benefit of the Russian invader in their respective administrations.
The two senior officials – the general prosecutor of Ukraine, Iryna Venediktova, and the head of the State Security Service (SBU), Ivan Bakanov, a long -standing friend of the president – are now the subject of ‘An investigation and have been replaced. Volodymyr Zelensky thus appointed two of their former assistants in their place on Monday: Vassili Maliouk, 39, directs the SBU, while Oleksi Symonenko becomes a prosecutor of Ukraine.
Vassili Maliouk immediately went around social networks thanks to his massive physique and the expression of his face, which evokes that of a cabaret porter than a subtle spy. Vétéran du Parquet, Oleksi Symonenko, 61, is usually described as a creature of Andriy Yermak, the all-powerful director of the presidential administration.
explaining this unexpected decision, Mr. Zelensky spoke of the arrest of a senior regional SBU official who, according to him, transmitted “secret information” to Russia, adding that sixty agents of this structure “stayed in occupied territories” by Moscow where they “work against our country”.
bad signal
The SBU purge continued on Monday with the suspension of twenty-eight counter-espionage agents. The position of Ivan Bakanov was in fact very weakened since early March, when it had appeared obvious that acts of betrayal within the security apparatus had allowed the Russian army to take control of the Kherson region, despite natural obstacles (Dniepr and Isthme de Perekop) promoting Ukrainian defense.
The departure of Iryna Venediktova, famous for his efforts to bring together the proofs of war crimes perpetrated by the Russian forces, raises more complex questions. Within the judicial front open against Russia on the first day of the war, on February 24, the latter had managed to embody this amazing justice in wartime, walking the scenes of Boutcha crimes, Irpine – in a Pare Vest -Ballets with the “War Crimes Prosecutor” (“Procurement for war crimes”) -, regularly leading Western political figures visiting Ukraine or the Attorney General of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan. In his tweets, the prosecutor was sometimes justifying, claiming weapons, recalling that there can be no justice without victory. She also targeted “collaborators”, going so far as to publish their portrait, and had announced the opening of surveys for state security involvement.
You have 49.8% of this article to read. The continuation is reserved for subscribers.