Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies uncover a second criminal network during the “Carthage” operation
Ukraine’s National Agency on Corruption Prevention and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office announced on 4 November that they had uncovered another criminal organization during the “Carthage” operation. According to investigators, the network linked alleged senior representatives of the SBU, the National Police and the Prosecutor General’s Office to drug trafficking, fraudulent call centres, currency counterfeiting, kidnapping and torture.
L'essentiel
- The second criminal organization was announced on 4 November during the “Carthage” operation.
- Investigators say the network included alleged representatives of the SBU, National Police and Prosecutor General’s Office.
- Serhii Duka, an SBU major general, and National Police officer Volodymyr Tsenov were detained.
- Andrii Osypov, a thrice-convicted man with ties to law-enforcement figures from Zhytomyr region, is alleged to have organized the network.
- The organization was allegedly involved in drug trafficking, supporting fraudulent call centres, counterfeiting euros, kidnapping and torture.
- Members reportedly planned to attack investigative journalist Denys Bigus over his reporting on the U420 retail network.
- Investigators conducted searches at the homes of senior National Police and SBU officials.
Pourquoi c’est important
The allegations connect serious criminal activity with personnel from several of Ukraine’s law-enforcement and prosecution institutions. The reported targeting of an investigative journalist also raises concerns about the safety of journalists and public-interest investigators.
Ce qui s’est passé
On 4 November, Ukraine’s National Agency on Corruption Prevention and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office announced the discovery of a second criminal organization under investigation in the “Carthage” operation. Investigators said it brought together alleged representatives of the SBU, the National Police and the Prosecutor General’s Office with members of the criminal world. According to the investigation, the group engaged in drug trafficking, supported fraudulent call centres, operated a workshop producing counterfeit euro banknotes, and carried out kidnapping and torture on commission in Ukraine and abroad. The agency detained SBU Major General Serhii Duka and National Police officer Volodymyr Tsenov. Among the reported participants were National Police officer Oleksandr Demianchuk, Russian citizen Yegor Levchenko, also known as Burkin, and athlete Vitalii Rybalko. The investigation remains at the pretrial stage, with authorities gathering evidence and preparing indictments.
Ce qu’en disent les sources ukrainiennes
Ukrainian reporting focuses on the alleged connections between the network and serving officials of the SBU, National Police and Prosecutor General’s Office. The coverage also details searches at senior officials’ homes, the reported threats against Denys Bigus and the view that the new searches are a logical continuation of the “Carthage” investigation.
Contexte
The “Carthage” operation began with the uncovering of a first criminal organization in early September. According to investigators, that group operated within the Prosecutor General’s Office, supported call centres in return for regular improper benefits and laundered unlawfully obtained funds. The case is still in pretrial investigation.