Mykhailo Fedorov's Remarks on Corruption Near the President
In a recent interview with the BBC, former defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov argued that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should be asked directly whether corruption may have occurred among his inner circle. The statement came after Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) opened new investigations involving high-ranking officials. Fedorov also said he does not believe Zelensky was personally involved in any corrupt activity. This adds to mounting public attention on anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine.
Fedorov, who has worked alongside Zelensky, emphasized that he never received unlawful tasks from him.
“During the entire time I worked with him, I never received any instruction or assignment from him that contradicted the law or my principles of honesty,” he said.He nevertheless insisted that Zelensky must answer whether he knew about corrupt behavior in his circle:
“Let him answer that question. I believe he is ready for such questions. It is his duty to tell us all whether he knew about all of this or not. I do not want to make any assumptions.”
The Corruption Situation in Ukraine
NABU is currently handling a case involving an alleged criminal scheme that illegally legalized UAH 150 million to be used as bail for a defendant in another proceeding. The BBC has reported that a female official from President Zelensky's office may be linked to the scheme. Fedorov also expressed concern about Ukraine's democratic process, warning:
“If the will of the people is never expressed, the country can no longer be considered a democracy.”
Regarding his own future, Fedorov has not yet decided whether he will run for president, according to Ukrainska Pravda, which cited sources from his team. His comments reflect the tense political climate in Ukraine and the urgent need to address corruption and democratic reform.
Fedorov's remarks underline the importance of transparency and accountability at the highest levels of Ukrainian leadership, particularly as corruption investigations move forward. President Zelensky's response to the question of whether he knew about corruption around him could significantly affect the country's political situation and public confidence in the government. Honest public discussion may be an important step toward restoring trust in political institutions and strengthening democratic processes in Ukraine.