Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has close ties to individuals named in a sprawling “golden toilet” scam that saw tens of millions of dollars siphoned from wartime energy programs, according to reports.
At least two people with ties to Zelensky were named in the investigation from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, which was unveiled Monday and alleged about $100 million meant to protect power plants from Russian sabotage was actually siphoned by officials beginning in 2022.
Among them was businessman Tymur Mindich, who co-founded the entertainment company Kvartal 95 with Zelensky and was allegedly the ringleader of the scheme.
The two even had apartments in the same building, with Zelensky stopping by Mindich’s for a birthday celebration in 2021.
And it was that apartment – where Mindich was found to have bags of cash, the Financial Times reported – which gave the probe its outrageous nickname.
“They were introduced many years ago and were running the business of 95 Kvartal, which includes film production and many other entertainment genres,” the official added.
Another Zelensky associate named in the probe was Oleksiy Chernyshov, Ukraine’s former deputy prime minister.
“He was also very close to the family, and he used to hold positions in the Zelensky government since 2019, and he has been accused of abuse of office,” the former official said.
“Chernyshov started building big, three or four huge houses in their most luxury place in Kyiv,” they added.
And while Zelenksy hasn’t been implicated in the scheme, the former official said rumors have been swirling that he was involved and benefited.
“Some say Zelensky was aware of these schemes and that he had approved them,” the source claimed, according to Fox News.
“There was also suspicion that money ended up in accounts abroad that benefited Zelensky and his inner circle,” they added.
The Ukrainian president has distanced himself from the scam by praising the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s investigation, and even encouraging punishment of anybody found guilty.
“Everyone who put together a corrupt scheme must receive a clear legal response. There must be criminal verdicts,” he said in a Nov. 10 address.
“Any effective actions against corruption are very needed. The inevitability of punishment is necessary,” Zelensky added.
But the notion of corruption reaching the heights of government at a time of war has left some soldiers facing death on the front lines deeply discouraged, the former official claimed.
