Ukraine prosecutors suspect Yanukovych in bribe-taking

The Prosecutor General of Ukraine issued a notice on Aug. 13 that names former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych as a suspect in obtaining a UAH 26 mln bribe from a Donetsk publisher, reported the pravda.com.ua news site on Aug. 13. Yanukovych received these costs in exchange for supporting the publisher’s business activity, as well as offering a cover in its relations with state and law enforcement authorities, the notice said. Officially, Yanukovych received these costs in the form of an advanced royalty payment for a book that was eventually published.

Zenon Zawada: Of all the crimes Yanukovych is accused of having engaged in, this case is miniscule. In choosing such a minor case, prosecutors seem to be taking the same approach that they have taken with Oleksandr Yefremov, the former deputy head of the Party of Regions parliamentary faction. Though accused of far graver crimes, like financing the pro-Russian terrorists, Yefremov was charged with inciting ethnic animosity and released on bail.

The bigger issue is whether this strategy is motivated by a desire to deflect attention from the more serious accusations, or to begin with a small conviction and work towards larger ones. Unfortunately, we believe the nation’s prosecutors, at the direction of President Petro Poroshenko, are intentionally delaying the achievement of justice by expending time and energy on the lesser charges first, to ensure that well-connected politicians don’t face more serious charges.

As a result, Poroshenko’s public support is dismal, which weakens his ability to conduct reforms and lead the war effort. Poroshenko will pay a hefty price for failing to prosecute the key figures of the Yanukovych regime, which might include not finishing his five-year term. But the heftier price would be the loss of Ukrainian statehood should political infighting escalate within Ukraine.