The first deputy director of the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) Gizo Uhlava reported serious accusations against his boss, the director of the NABU Semyon Kryvonos. Uglava submitted a statement to the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NACP) about a possible violation of anti-corruption legislation by Kryvonos and received whistleblower status.
Accusation
Gizo Uhlava claims that he submitted a statement to the NAKC about the conflict of interests that allegedly exists between him and the director of NABU. He noted that previous attempts to appeal to the Disciplinary Commission and other bodies were ignored. In a statement to NAZK, Uhlava indicated the following violations:
- Personal pressure with a demand to resign.
- Taking actions that undermine the rule of law in order to achieve a private interest.
- Decision-making is not based on the law, but under pressure.
According to his words, these circumstances became the basis for giving him the status of a whistleblower.
Uglava noted that due to the initiated monitoring and whistleblower status, the director of NABU does not have the legal authority to make a decision regarding disciplinary sanctions against him. He also emphasized that the director of NABU should take appropriate legal measures in this case.
Searches and investigations
This conflict flared up against the background of recent events, when the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) jointly with the National Police conducted searches at NABU. SAP prosecutors later specified that the searches were not carried out in NABU premises, but at the place of residence of a NABU detective, one of the units, in the case of disclosure of pre-trial investigation data.
Against the background of these events, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau started a pre-trial investigation into a possible leak of information, and NABU director Semyon Krivonos confirmed the approval of the conclusion of the official investigation into possible pressure on corruption whistleblowers.
