Key facts
- Anton Kovalsky was appointed Ukraine's acting prosecutor general on Sept. 17.
- Kovalsky's predecessor, Ruslan Kravchenko, fled Ukraine on Sept. 14 amid a large-scale investigation.
- The investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) concerns an alleged scam call center protection racket.
- A top prosecutor, described as a "confidant" of Kravchenko, has been charged.
- Kovalsky has maintained a low profile, which analysts suggest may be advantageous for avoiding scandal.
- Anti-corruption activists have raised questions about Kovalsky's assets, his wife's business income, and his influential allies.
Anton Kovalsky assumed the role of Ukraine's acting prosecutor general on September 17, stepping into a position fraught with scandal and controversy. His predecessor, Ruslan Kravchenko, departed Ukraine on September 14 amidst a large-scale investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) into an alleged protection racket for scam call centers, reportedly operating from the Prosecutor General's Office. Evidence has emerged suggesting Kravchenko's potential implication, leading to the charging of a top prosecutor described as his confidant.
Kovalsky's relative obscurity contrasts sharply with his predecessor's high profile. Analysts suggest President Volodymyr Zelensky may favor a prosecutor general untainted by major scandals, a criterion Kovalsky appears to meet. However, anti-corruption activists have voiced concerns regarding Kovalsky's assets, his wife's business income, and his connections to influential figures.
Political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko noted that avoiding scandals and corruption investigations was a primary criterion for the appointment. He also described Kovalsky as cautious, loyal, and lacking the ambition attributed to Kravchenko. It remains unclear when or if Kovalsky's candidacy will be formally submitted to parliament for permanent appointment. Zelensky stated on September 25 that he had not yet discussed candidates for the post. A lawmaker from Zelensky's party indicated that securing sufficient parliamentary votes could be challenging due to frequent changes in prosecutor generals.
Media reports citing sources suggest potential links between Kovalsky and businessman Illia Pavliuk and ex-prosecutor Ihor Mustetsa, both from Chernivtsi, where Kovalsky previously served as chief prosecutor. While Kovalsky denies acquaintance with Pavliuk, he acknowledges knowing Mustetsa through work-related interactions. Activists have also questioned the significant income earned by Kovalsky's wife from her retail business, which began in 2023, noting it far exceeds her husband's salary and raises questions about its legitimacy.
Kovalsky's appointment of Maksym Kuterha as a deputy in Khmelnytsky Oblast has also drawn scrutiny due to Kuterha's controversial reputation and the acquisition of significant assets by him and his wife.