Sienkevych explains why he did not attend the rallies in support of NABU like Klychko: «Kyiv mayor has less to do»

Миколаївський міський голова Олександр Сєнкевич на пресконференції 30 липня. Фото: NikVestiMykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych at a press conference on 30 July. Photo: NikVesti

Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych explained why he did not attend the rallies in support of the NABU and the SAPO.

He said this when asked by a correspondent of NikVesti during a press conference at the city council today, 30 July.

The mayor noted that the rallies took place outside of his working hours and that he was not invited to them.

«Firstly, these rallies took place outside of my working hours. And no one informed me about the rallies in advance. Secondly, I am glad that we have such a mature society in Ukraine, which, if something does not suit them, comes out with their desire to speak out. As for whether I can change or influence the laws adopted by the Rada, I have no such influence. The deputies who voted for it were also elected by the people of Mykolaiv, and I think they should be responsible for what they vote for. No one invited me there,» explained Sienkevych.

When the journalist clarified that the mayor of Kyiv, Vitalii Klychko, had come to the rallies in Kyiv without an invitation, the mayor of Mykolaiv jokingly replied:

«The mayor of Kyiv has less to do than the mayor of Mykolaiv,» he said.

It should be noted that Mykolaiv residents came out to remind the authorities of the need to restore the independence of the NABU and the SAPO for three days in a row. Citizens gathered on Soborna Street and marched with placards and slogans to Soborna Square near the city council. However, no one from the authorities came out to them.

Миколаївці на Соборній площі 24 липня під час мітингу проти закону, який обмежує роботу НАБУ і САП. Фото: NikVestiMykolaiv residents on Soborna Square on 24 July during a rally against the law restricting the work of NABU and SAPO. Photo: NikVesti.
Миколаївці на Соборній площі 24 липня під час мітингу проти закону, який обмежує роботу НАБУ і САП. Фото: NikVestiResidents of Mykolaiv on Soborna Square on 24 July during a rally against the law restricting the work of the NABU and the SAPO. Photo: NikVesti

At the same time, on the first day of the rallies in Kyiv, Kyiv residents spotted Mayor Vitalii Klychko and his brother Volodymyr among the crowd.

Віталій та Володимир Кличко на мітингу у Києві 22 липня. Фото з відкритих джерелVitali and Volodymyr Klitschko at a rally in Kyiv on 22 July. Photo from open sources

Searches of NABU and SAPO offices

On 21 July, officers of the Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General's Office began conducting searches of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau in several regions of Ukraine. As explained, the investigative actions were part of a special operation to neutralise Russian influence on the NABU. They noted that the suspicions relate, among other things, to high treason, illegal trade with Russia and corrupt actions in the interests of oligarchs.

Later, the SSU detained Ruslan Magamedrasulov, one of the heads of the NABU's interregional detective department. He is suspected of doing business with Russia and aiding the aggressor state.

Responding to this, the NABU called the searches unreasonable and likely to harm the investigation. In most cases, according to the anti-corruption agency, investigative actions were carried out without court orders. The security forces cited, among other things, the involvement of some NABU employees in road accidents as grounds. The Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office also reported a similar inspection. They stressed that such visits contradicted established legal procedures.

According to the prosecutor's office, during the inspection, SBU officers gained access to information about all covert and operational activities carried out by the SAPO and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau. This happened when the leadership of both institutions was on a business trip abroad.

Later, it became known that the State Bureau of Investigation had served three employees of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine with suspicion notices in connection with their involvement in road accidents that resulted in injuries.

Following the NABU's accusations, the Security Service of Ukraine stated that it did not have access to covert investigations conducted by the NABU and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office. This accusation was called groundless and manipulative. The Security Service of Ukraine also detained an employee of the closed unit of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine «D-2», who is suspected of working for the FSB.

The next day, on 22 July, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Law Enforcement supported amendments to the CPC that could make the NABU and the SAPO dependent on the decisions of the Prosecutor General. It was supported by 263 MPs at the Rada meeting. This decision was also supported by all MPs from Mykolaiv.

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