Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau said Saturday it detained former Energy Minister German Galushchenko as he attempted to leave the country, marking the latest high-profile arrest in a sprawling corruption investigation.
NABU detectives stopped Galushchenko while he was crossing the state border, the agency said in a statement. The former minister resigned in November as investigators unveiled an alleged $100m money-laundering conspiracy in Ukraine’s energy sector.
The arrest is part of what anti-corruption officials call the “Midas case.” NABU said initial investigative proceedings are ongoing in accordance with court sanctions but provided no additional details about the arrest.
Galushchenko served as energy minister until his resignation last year. He was among several officials who stepped down after NABU exposed what it described as a scheme orchestrated by Timur Mindich, a businessman with ties to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s inner circle.
According to Ukraine’s Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, investigators believe Galushchenko helped Mindich manage illicit financial flows in the energy sector. SAPO said contractors working with Energoatom, the state nuclear power company, faced demands for bribes of 10 to 15 percent to maintain contracts or avoid payment delays.
The investigation has already led to the resignations of two previous energy ministers and Zelenskyy’s chief of staff. All three have denied any wrongdoing.
Ukraine has made anti-corruption efforts a central part of its bid to join the European Union. The country faces pressure from Western partners to demonstrate progress in tackling graft, which has long plagued its political and economic systems.
In recent weeks, Ukrainian authorities have targeted multiple high-profile figures. Lawmakers, former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and a former presidential adviser have all faced various charges.
Galushchenko’s arrest comes as NABU and SAPO intensify investigations into suspected corruption during wartime. The energy sector has been a particular focus due to the large sums of money flowing through state companies and reconstruction projects.
The former minister had not commented publicly on the allegations before his arrest. SAPO said more details about the case would be released as the investigation continues.