Internal Probe Launched Against Prosecutors
On February 10, Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko initiated an internal investigation into three prosecutors. This action follows an exposé by the investigative outlet Bihus.Info, which revealed that close relatives of these officials had purchased properties in the village of Polianytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk region. The case has raised significant concerns about a potential mismatch between the prosecutors' declared incomes and the value of the acquired real estate.
The Bihus.Info investigation found that relatives of the three prosecutors became owners of units in the luxury Glacier Premium Apartments complex, located at the Bukovel ski resort. Notably, the complex is not scheduled to officially open until January 1, 2026. Among the property owners is the wife of Yevhen Pazuk, a former member of the Vinnytsia region's military medical commission, who invested approximately $160,000 in the project. This probe comes amidst heightened scrutiny of public officials' assets in Ukraine, particularly during wartime.
Prosecutors Under Scrutiny
The prosecutors now subject to the official internal investigation are:
- Oleksandr Syniuk, head of a department in the Volyn Regional Prosecutor's Office;
- Oleh Mykhailyna, an employee of the Vinnytsia Regional Prosecutor's Office;
- Oleksandr Chechitka, head of the Left-Bank District Prosecutor's Office in Dnipro.
The Prosecutor General's Office stated that the investigation was launched 'to establish all circumstances and provide a proper assessment of the possible failure to comply with the requirements, prohibitions, or restrictions stipulated by the Law of Ukraine on Preventing Corruption.'
This case underscores the critical importance of adherence to anti-corruption laws by public officials, especially within the prosecutorial system. It raises serious questions about the transparency of prosecutors' asset declarations and could impact public trust in law enforcement institutions. The move signals a continued anti-corruption drive under Prosecutor General Kravchenko, who recently announced the referral to court of a case concerning a prosecutor's fraudulent disability claim.