Arsen Avakov Will Stay in Office: The "Backpack Case" Did Not Give Any Results

• 11.10.2017, 17:25
•  Europe

Днепр Час

On November 7, the Ukrainian Supreme Rada discussed the issue of Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov's resignation, which has been raised several times before, but has not been paid any attention to. As a result of the recent corruption scandal, the issue of the Minister's removal was on the legislature's agenda. However, with 31 votes for and 226 votes against, Supreme Rada rejected the plans to dismiss the Minister. The draft specifically stated that under the leadership of Avakov, the Ministry of Internal Affairs had shown its discretion in the protection of citizens and fighting crime. The crime rate increased by 30%, and the level of disclosure was reduced by 10%. The authors of the draft did not forget to mention the latest corruption scandal.

Ukraine's National Front believes that the resignation of Interior Minister Arsen Avakov is a planned action against the party, which can lead to a political crisis in Ukraine. This was stated by the head of the faction in the Supreme Rada Maxim Burbak.

It is worth reminding that Avakov junior is accused of laundering about half a million dollars, when supplying Ukraine's Ministry of Defense with backpacks. In February 2015, the Ministry issued about 630,000 dollar contracts, and in June the journalist investigation found out that the backpacks were obtained through the enterprises led by Avakov Junior. Minister Avakov assured that he and his son had nothing to do with the backpack and described these events as a step to discredit him and his family. Nevertheless, on October 31, the employees of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine arrested Alexander Avakov, who was then released, if necessary, to the law enforcement agencies. It is noteworthy that the Ukrainian court recognized the Bureau's actions as illegal.

As a result of this corruption scandal, two members of the Supreme Rada of Ukraine (one of whom was from Poroshenko's team) demanded Avakov's resignation until the investigation of the "case of the backpack" is over. Various sources assure that the scandal is based on contradictions between President Poroshenko and Minister Avakov.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine was created in 2015 within the framework of the OSCE assistance and is considered an independent body. The arrest of the son of the Ukrainian Interior Minister has become one of the most controversial cases of the Ukrainian National Anti-Corruption Bureau.