She said that she discussed the conduct of state financial control of state-owned enterprises in the energy sector with the head of the State Audit Service, Alla Basalaeva.
“The audit of NAEK Energoatom has already begun, this is the main priority. State Autonomous Inspectorate will check the activities of the enterprise’s management apparatus, 10 of its branches, including three nuclear power plants, for the years 2023–2025. We agreed that the interim results of the audit should be ready in December,” Sviridenko wrote.
According to her, the audit materials will be sent to law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies for an appropriate response.
In parallel, preparations for an audit began at other enterprises – GTS Operator of Ukraine, Centrenergo, Ukrgazvidobuvannya, the prime minister added.
“The government expects regular reports on the progress of all inspections on a monthly basis throughout the entire period. We will act promptly if violations are discovered. We must ensure full transparency of state-owned enterprises,” Sviridenko emphasized.
Context
Sviridenko announced a comprehensive audit of state-owned enterprises against the backdrop of a corruption scandal at NNEGC Energoatom.
On November 10, NABU announced Operation Midas to expose a “high-level criminal organization” that was engaged in extortion at Energoatom. According to the investigation, the state-owned company's contractors were offered to pay a kickback of 10% to 15% for goods and services, threatening to block payments from the budget or break off cooperation.
Investigative actions were also carried out against the current Minister of Justice. German Galushchenko (ex-head of the Ministry of Energy), who is called Professor and Sigismund in NABU wiretaps. In general, four ministers from different parts of the Ukrainian government are involved in the Energoatom case, the head of the NABU detective department, Alexander Abakumov, told Ukrainskaya Pravda. In particular, NABU reported suspicion of illegal enrichment to former Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Alexey Chernyshov. The SAPS will request arrest for him.
People's Deputy from “Voice” Yaroslav Zheleznyak accused the head of the Ministry of Energy Svetlana Grinchuk of involvement in this story. She replied that she “didn’t understand the claims.” However, after Zelensky’s video message on November 12, in which he said that, in his opinion, Galushchenko and Grinchuk “cannot remain in their positions,” the energy minister wrote a letter of resignation. It was also written by Galushchenko. It is planned that the Rada will consider them on November 18.
The head of European diplomacy, Kaya Kallas, called the corruption scandal in the Ukrainian Energoatom extremely unfortunate.
The media wrote that possible corruption at Energoatom puts the EU in an awkward position amid the process of Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. European allies are demanding an explanation from Ukraine over an energy corruption scandal, Politico reported on November 14.
