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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suspended Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko on Monday, hours after it emerged that he had left the country after resigning amid a major corruption probe that had reached his own office.
Kravchenko crossed the border overnight, according to Ukrainian media citing law-enforcement sources.
Kravchenko also released a video saying he had signed a notice of suspicion against Semen Kryvonos, director of Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU).
Kravchenko alleged that Kryvonos had forged official documents to obtain an unlawful benefit.
Kryvonos rejected the allegation and told reporters later on Monday that he had neither seen the notice nor been formally served with one.
NABU and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) described Kravchenko’s actions as part of what they called a “systematic attack” on Ukraine’s independent anti-corruption institutions.
Zelenskyy intervened later on Monday, signing a decree suspending Kravchenko and asking parliament to dismiss him.
“This prosecutor general has only one path ahead: dismissal from office,” Zelenskyy said, urging lawmakers to act without delay.
The relevant parliamentary committee has backed the request, with lawmakers expected to vote on Kravchenko’s dismissal on Tuesday.
Kravchenko submitted his resignation on 7 September after NABU and SAPO uncovered an alleged criminal organisation involving officials in the Prosecutor General’s Office.
Investigators allege that members of the group regularly received bribes from fraudulent call centres in return for not interfering with their activities, and laundered millions in criminal proceeds.
Investigators searched Kravchenko’s office as part of the probe. NABU also released recordings referring to a person described as the “boss,” whose patronymic and former position as head of Ukraine’s State Tax Service correspond to Kravchenko.
Kravchenko has not been charged or named as a suspect and denies any involvement.