Former Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko has officially resigned from Ukraine’s prosecution service, a move that concludes his tenure in the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) following his dismissal earlier this month. This resignation comes in the wake of significant corruption investigations, notably ‘Operation Carthage’, which implicated senior officials within his office.
On September 15, Kravchenko was removed from his position as prosecutor general after a parliamentary vote that saw 317 lawmakers support President Volodymyr Zelensky’s motion. Despite this dismissal, Kravchenko remained a prosecutor until his resignation was accepted on Monday, September 21.
Context of Resignation
Mariana Haiovska, spokesperson for the PGO, confirmed that the acting prosecutor general had signed an order to formally dismiss Kravchenko, thereby ending his status as a prosecutor. His absence from the office, following a foreign business trip that concluded on September 18, raised questions about his future role within the service.
According to sources within the prosecutor’s office, Kravchenko’s failure to report for duty, coupled with his resignation request, expedited his dismissal process. Under Ukrainian law, the dismissal of a prosecutor general does not automatically terminate their status as a prosecutor, creating a unique situation regarding Kravchenko’s absence.
Background of the Investigation
The controversy surrounding Kravchenko began on September 4, when the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) launched ‘Operation Carthage’. This operation aimed to dismantle a criminal organization allegedly led by a senior official within the PGO, which was reportedly involved in collecting bribes from fraudulent call centers.
As investigations unfolded, several arrests were made, including that of Serhii Kropyva, the head of the Cyber Department at the PGO. The operation has drawn significant media attention and scrutiny, with allegations of corruption reaching the highest levels of the prosecution service.
Escalation of the Crisis
The situation escalated further when Kravchenko accused NABU officials of misconduct and alleged that they had forged documents to gain improper benefits. Following these accusations, he submitted his resignation, which was pending parliamentary approval until his recent departure from the prosecution service.
As of September 21, Kravchenko had not been formally charged with any crime, although the ongoing investigations continue to cast a shadow over his legacy and the integrity of the PGO.
