This Sunday, July 17, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the dismissal of two major figures in the country: the general prosecutor, Iryna Venediktova, and the head of Ukraine’s security services, Ivan Bakanov.
A decision that caused a stir. This Sunday, July 17, at 145th day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the dismissal of two of his most senior Ukrainian leaders: Iryna VenediktovaAttorney General, and Ivan Bakanovhead of the Ukrainian internal security agency, the SBU. “Today I have taken the decision to relieve the Attorney General and the Chief of the Security Services from their duties”said the statesman in a message posted via Telegram.
The decision to sack Venediktova and Bakanov comes as 650 of their subordinates, senior Ukrainian officials, are suspected of treason for the benefit of Russia. “Such a range of crimes against the foundations of national security and the links established between Ukrainian law enforcement officials and Russian special services raise very serious questions for the leaders concerned.“, estimated Volodymyr Zelensky, promising “an answer to each of these questions“.
Volodomyr Zelensky parts ways with a close ally
In office since March 17, 2020, Iryna Venediktova had notably supervised the investigation into war crimes committed by Russia in February and March 2022 in the city of Boutcha, Ukraine. For his part, Ivan Bakanov is one of Volodymyr Zelensky’s closest allies. Childhood friend and faithful political collaborator of the Ukrainian president, he was appointed head of the security services on May 22, 2019, but would have made several catastrophic errors in the course of his duties. Among other things, several SBU cadres appointed by Bakanov turned out to be double agents of the FSB (Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation), particularly in the Kherson region. These decisions would have partly caused the loss of the south of the country at the beginning of the war.
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Volodymyr Zelensky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in parliament (Verkhovna Rada) in kyiv, May 3, 2022.
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Volodymyr Zelensky
Volodymyr Zelensky has announced the dismissal of two of his most senior Ukrainian leaders: Iryna Venediktova, general prosecutor, and Ivan Bakanov, head of the Ukrainian internal security agency, the SBU.
© Zuma Press
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Volodymyr Zelensky
The decision to sack Venediktova and Bakanov comes as 650 of their subordinates, senior Ukrainian officials, are suspected of treason for the benefit of Russia.
© Zuma Press
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Volodymyr Zelensky
“Today I have taken the decision to relieve the general prosecutor and the head of the security services of their duties”, declared Volodymyr Zelensky on July 17.
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Volodymyr Zelensky
Volodymyr Zelensky criticizes in particular Ivan Bakanov for having taken dangerous decisions for Ukraine.
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Volodymyr Zelensky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets with Slovak President Zuzana Caputova in kyiv on May 31, 2022.
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Volodymyr Zelensky
Volodomyr Zelensky separates from a close ally by sacking Ivan Bakanov.
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Volodymyr Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis during a press conference joint at the Marinsky Palace in kyiv, Ukraine, June 16, 2022.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a press conference with Xavier Bettel (Prime Minister of Luxembourg) in kyiv, June 21, 2022.
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Volodymyr Zelensky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the ceremony to award “Hero of Ukraine” medals to members of the armed forces and families of the military killed at the Marrinsky Palace in Kyiv on July 14, 2022.