The Ukrainian government has moved to suspend the head of the supervisory board of Sense Bank, Korytskyi, as the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) investigates allegations involving the bank. This decision follows a recent announcement by members of the Ukrainian parliament, who stated that on August 19, the Verkhovna Rada decided to summon the head of the National Bank of Ukraine, Andriy Pyshny, to provide a report on the situation surrounding Sense Bank.
Prime Minister Shmyhal emphasized that other bank officials implicated in the preliminary investigation must also be held accountable.
“The facts disclosed by the anti-corruption agencies require proper assessment and cannot go unaddressed. Trust is a fundamental condition for the operation of a state financial institution,” Korytskyi stated.
Context
- On August 19, NABU announced a joint special operation with the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) to expose a criminal organization led by current and former parliament members of Ukraine, involving high-ranking officials from the Presidential Office and others. The operation was named “Forest Gump.”
- According to law enforcement, a group organized and facilitated the legalization of 150 million UAH obtained through criminal means, using state bank AT Sense Bank and accounts of affiliated enterprises for the scheme. NABU also released audio recordings of the deputy head of the Presidential Office discussing Sense Bank and its alleged protection.
- Media and parliament members have reported that among those involved in the investigation may be MP Vadym Stolar from the “Restoration of Ukraine” group, former MP Maksym Mykytas, and Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Iryna Mudra, who has already been dismissed by President Volodymyr Zelensky. Stolar confirmed that NABU detectives conducted searches at his home.
