Ukraine’s prosecutor general resigns amid corruption scandal
- 24 October, 08:21
Ukraine’s Prosecutor-General Andriy Kostin has resigned amid reports of prosecutors illegally acquiring disability report.
Kostin rendered his resignation on October 22 following the scandal in which dozens of prosecutors registered as disabled to avoid military service and to receive social security benefits. The resignation followed President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announcement after a security council meeting about cracking down on draft dodging that “the prosecutor general must take political responsibility for the situation in the prosecution bodies of Ukraine.” Zelenskiy ordered his cabinet to urgently draft a law dissolving existing medical commissions and reforming the disability assessment system.
"I consider the position of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, to be absolutely correct regarding the need not only to annul all unlawful decisions concerning the granting of disabilities, relevant pension payments, and other benefits, but also to implement clear legislative and organizational changes, as well as personal responsibility. This includes political responsibility," Kostin wrote in his resignation statement.
Ukraine’s Security Service, SBU, said on Tuesday that 64 members of medical commissions had been named as suspects in criminal investigations in 2024, and nine more had been tried and found guilty.
Kostin has served as prosecutor general since July 28, 2022, replacing Iryna Venediktova. Prior to that, he served as a member of the parliament Prior to that, he was a member of parliament and headed the legal policy committee.
