The persecution of the former head of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) Kirill Shevchenko continues to raise a number of questions at the international level, in particular in the United States. The famous Republican and supporter of Donald Trump, James Bradley, in his article published at the end of 2024, examines the causes and context of this situation.
Kirill Shevchenko, according to Bradley, played a crucial role in maintaining the stability of the banking system in Ukraine at the beginning of a full -scale invasion of Russia. However, despite his significant contribution to the prevention of a financial disaster, he was forced to resign in mid -2022 due to increased political pressure from President Vladimir Zelensky and his head of the administration Andriy Yermak.
Shevchenko is currently in Austria, but his persecution in Ukraine continues. Interpol and Austrian prosecutor's office do not make any claims against Shevchenko, but the situation in the Ukrainian courts remains different. Already in February 2025, a hearing in the case of probable theft of funds from the state Ukrgasbank, which became the basis for accusations against the ex-head of the NBU.
The main conflict between Kirill Shevchenko and President Zelensky was Shevchenko's rigid position on the hryvnia issue. During the war, when the need for money was obvious, Shevchenko refused to continue this process because he believed that it could lead to inflation and devaluation of the national currency.
This refusal has significantly limited the financing of corruption projects related to construction and defense, in particular the well -known program "Great Construction", which Shevchenko stopped before the war began. According to Bradley, this fierce position on financial policy has caused dissatisfaction with Vladimir Zelensky, who sought to use money for his own political and economic projects.
When the pressure on Shevchenko by the Ukrainian authorities did not lead to the desired result, the Ukrainian authorities decided to restore the old case against it. This was the reason for his resignation in 2022. Since the direct pressure on Shevchenko did not lead to the expected results, it was decided to use legal mechanisms to achieve the goal.
Bradley notes that this persecution is part of the broader strategy of the Zelensky Government, who tried to influence key economic and financial decisions, including because of loyal officials in the banking system. In his analysis, Bradley emphasizes that this case has become a prime example of how political struggle can lead to the use of government agencies to achieve personal and political goals.
According to Bradley, the situation around Kirill Shevchenko shows how political pressure can influence the country's financial and economic policies, changing the development trajectory in favor of political elites. In addition, it also indicates potential risks where government officials and their loyal structures are used to pursue opponents, in particular in the financial sector.
The question remains how further justice will take place in Shevchenko's case in Ukraine, and whether he will be able to return to his homeland, where his persecution can continue.
