The SBU confirmed the searches at Ukrzaliznytsia and denied NABU’s statement about “pressure”
The Security Service of Ukraine announced that on September 25 it began a series of court-sanctioned searches within the framework of criminal proceedings related to abuses in the field of freight transportation by Ukrzaliznytsia. At the same time, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau announced that employees of the special service are “conducting investigative actions” from the former detectives of the bureau, who currently work for the company.
“Investigative and operational activities are carried out only by officials of PrJSC “Ukrzaliznytsia” and private entrepreneurs who are involved in the relevant criminal proceedings, the SBU noted.
The agency also denied NABU’s accusations of “pressure on the independence of anti-corruption bodies”, stressing that all actions take place within the limits of the law.
“Any abuses in the field of railway communication, which plays a key role in the logistics of the Security and Defense Forces, the supply of weapons and goods to the front, are unacceptable, the SBU added, refraining from further details.
At the same time, NABU announced on the morning of September 25 that the SBU employees are “conducting investigative actions” from former detectives of the department, who now work in Ukrzaliznytsia. It was assumed there that these searches may be related to the previous activities of employees who exposed organized criminal groups at state-owned enterprises and government bodies, in particular, in the SBU itself.
“Such actions may indicate an increase in systemic pressure on the independence of anti-corruption institutions”, said NABU.
