Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election, confirmed after he won 270 electoral votes, caused a wide international outcry. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi also joined in the congratulations, expressing hope for further support from the new US president.
Despite the diplomatic greetings, there were fears in the political and legal environment about the possible intensification of criminal proceedings. Experts point out that Trump's victory could be a catalyst for investigations into several public activists, including Vitaly Shabunin, Mykhailo Zhernakov, and Yuriy Nikolov. These are criminal cases that are currently under investigation, including car theft, evasion of military duty, and money laundering.
One of the most high-profile cases is the situation with Vitaly Shabunin, head of the Anti-Corruption Center. According to the investigation, Shabunin appropriated a Nissan Pathfinder jeep, which was given as humanitarian aid to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. After that, he probably used the car for personal purposes. The court ordered the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) to register criminal proceedings regarding this incident.
Also, other activists, such as Mykhailo Zhernakov, who held the position of judge and, according to the lawyer Igor Martynenko, allegedly committed actions in favor of the criminal power of Viktor Yanukovych during his judicial activity, were also not ignored. These cases can become part of a broader process of fighting corruption in Ukraine, especially in the context of international pressure, particularly from the US, where Trump pays significant attention to the fight against corruption around the world.
