Legal and ethical violations have been identified during an internal probe into alleged pressure on a whistleblower at the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), Semen Kryvonos, head of the bureau, said at a news briefing on Aug. 9.
"Certain violations of the ethics code and the law on public service have been identified by the internal audit unit," he said. "...I expect (the NABU's disciplinary commission) to consider the materials and make a relevant decision (on punishing those involved) within two or three weeks."
The commission may recommend a dismissal, reprimand or warning of those behind the alleged pressure on the whistleblower.
The whistleblower, whose name is unknown, revealed information on the NABU allegedly leaking case materials to suspects in a high-profile corruption investigation, and warning them about upcoming searches.
A criminal case into the leaks was launched in May. Two internal probes, into the alleged pressure on the whistleblower and illegal instructions allegedly given by top NABU officials to detectives, were initiated in the same month.
Oleg Sukhov
The leak scandal and its aftermath have prompted accusations that the NABU’s independence was compromised, allegedly with involvement of several people linked to President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office.
Kryvonos' deputy Gizo Uglava, who has been the NABU's second-in-command for nine years, is being investigated in the leak case and has been suspended at his own request.
Kryvonos has also been lambasted by parliament's anti-corruption committee and anti-corruption activists due to what they see as his failure to react to the leak scandal quickly and adequately and to fire Uglava.
The NABU's chief confirmed on Aug. 9 that the internal probe was linked to Uglava's alleged actions, and said that Uglava had provided his objections to the internal audit unit's conclusions.
He also promised to publish the results of the internal probe.
The alleged leaks that sparked the current NABU scandal were discovered after investigators seized a phone belonging to businessman Yury Holyk, who was under investigation in a high-profile corruption case.
The phone contained copies of messages obtained by Holyk from an intermediary who allegedly talked with NABU employees from 2021 through 2023. Some of the messages have since been published by investigative journalists.
Both Holyk and his intermediary, Georgy Birkadze, are linked to the President’s Office.
The NABU is investigating a high-profile embezzlement scheme within the “Big Construction” project where Holyk was allegedly involved.
Apart from Holyk, Zelensky's former Deputy Chief of Staff Kyrylo Tymoshenko has been investigated in the “Big Construction” case and is mentioned as Birkadze’s “boss” in leaked correspondence.
The President’s Office did not respond to requests for comment.
Oleg Sukhov
