Former Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko was detained while trying to leave the country this Sunday (15). He is suspected of involvement in a corruption scheme. The arrest occurred after a warning from the National Anti-Corruption Agency of Ukraine to border authorities.
Halushchenko is named as one of the central names in the so-called ‘Operation Midas’, which investigates suspicious contracts in the nuclear energy sector. The case is considered one of the biggest corruption scandals of the last decade in the country and affected the government of President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The investigation also cites businessman Timur Mindich, a former partner of Zelensky, identified as one of the leaders of the scheme and who reportedly left the country after being warned about the investigation. Halushchenko denies the allegations and has not yet been formally charged.
Even so, anti-corruption bodies had instructed authorities to prevent the former minister from leaving Ukrainian territory.
