Key facts
- President Zelensky denies any involvement in a corruption scandal.
- Iryna Mudra, former deputy head of the President's Office, faces charges of money laundering and illegal real estate seizure.
- Mudra is accused of laundering Hr 150 million ($3.4 million) through Sense Bank.
- The funds were allegedly intended to post bail for former Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko.
- Zelensky dismissed Mudra following the allegations.
- NABU released recordings implicating Mudra in an alleged criminal group.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that anti-corruption agencies have no questions for him amid a corruption scandal involving Iryna Mudra, a former deputy head of the President's Office. Mudra was dismissed on August 19 following allegations of money laundering and illegal real estate seizure. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) has charged Mudra and others with laundering Hr 150 million ($3.4 million) through Sense Bank, allegedly to post bail for former Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko.
The High Anti-Corruption Court on August 24 placed Mudra in custody for two months and set bail at Hr 20 million ($448,000). Mudra stated she would attempt to raise the funds. Prosecutors had initially sought higher bail. NABU also released recordings on August 20 that allegedly implicate Mudra in a criminal group involved in illegal real estate seizure.
Zelensky told journalists that he had no further details beyond what was publicly released, which he deemed sufficient for Mudra's dismissal. He stressed the importance of independent law enforcement operations. Leaked tapes reportedly feature Mudra suggesting corruption should be controlled rather than fought, with a partially beeped-out name possibly linking to Kyrylo Budanov, head of the President's Office. Budanov commented that the matter is now in the court's hands.