The Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Rustem Umerov, who is among the leading figures in the peace talks with Moscow and Washington, has been questioned as a witness by anti-corruption authorities in connection with the largest corruption scandal in the country since the beginning of the war, Reuters reports, citing local media, Vesti.bg reports.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) has invited Umerov to testify in the investigation against Timur Mindych, considered the organizer of a scheme to embezzle about $100 million, in which the state nuclear company “Energoatom“ is involved. The information was confirmed by the press service of Umerov, but the media did not specify when the interrogation was conducted.
A spokesman for Umerov did not respond to requests for comment, and NABU said they would not comment on the investigation. No charges have been filed against Umerov for any violations at this time.
Earlier this year, Umerov led Kiev's delegation to peace talks with Russia in Turkey. A few days ago, he also met with US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Miami, where they discussed a new peace proposal. The initial version of the plan was considered too favorable to Moscow by Ukraine and its European allies, after which the Ukrainian side, with Umerov's participation, negotiated a revised framework in Geneva with US representatives.
The investigation, which began two weeks ago on suspicions of large-scale embezzlement of funds, has triggered a political crisis and become the most serious internal threat to the administration of President Volodymyr Zelensky since the beginning of the Russian invasion in 2022. Seven people have been charged so far, with five of them detained.
Against this backdrop, Justice Minister German Galushchenko was temporarily suspended from office, and Energy Minister Svitlana Grinchuk resigned. Both deny wrongdoing.
Timur Mindich, considered the ringleader of the scheme and a former business partner of President Zelensky, did not respond to requests for comment. He is a co-owner of “Studio Kvartal 95“, where Zelensky built his career before the 2019 elections. According to Reuters, Mindich left the country shortly before the investigation was made public on November 10.
Umerov, who until July also held the post of defense minister, said earlier that he had met with Mindich only in connection with a contract for the supply of bulletproof vests. According to him the contract was terminated due to non-compliance with requirements and no deliveries were made. He categorically denies any allegations of undue influence on his work.