KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine’s government has suspended Justice Minister German Galushchenko, the prime minister said on Wednesday, amid an investigation into corruption in the energy sector.
Ukrainian authorities charged seven individuals in relation to an alleged $100 million kickback scheme involving senior energy officials that has caused public anger and focused attention on Kyiv’s battle against corruption.
Galushchenko, who had previously served as energy minister, was the subject of investigative actions, his ministry said on Tuesday.
It did not specify whether this was in relation to the energy corruption case investigated by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau.
Galushchenko agreed with the government’s decision, saying “suspension for the duration of the investigation is a civilised and appropriate scenario” in a post on Facebook.
“I will defend myself in the legal arena and prove my position,” Galushchenko added, without sharing more details about the causes of the probe.
Accusations of kickbacks in the energy sector are particularly sensitive with the broader public, which is facing lengthy daily blackouts across much of the country even before cold winter temperatures set in as it fends off massive Russian attacks on its infrastructure.
(Reporting by Anastasiia Malenko; Editing by Kim Coghill and Alex Richardson)
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