Zelensky calls up Security Council meeting over medical commissions corruption

Source: Volodymyr Zelensky/Facebook

In his video adress on Sunday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he is calling up an urgent meeting of National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) to address the scandal that saw medical-social expert commissions (MSEC) faking dozens of disability status and medical exemptions for prosecutors in Khmelnytskyi.

Zelensky vented his anger over the corruption callin such medical commissions a “domestic enemy” that undermines the nation from within.

“Unfortunately, here on the home front, we are witnessing acts that require no external enemy. This is truly an internal threat,” Zelensky stated. “What’s happening with the MSECs—particularly the audacity of certain individuals, including prosecutors, who used their connections to fraudulently obtain disability status—is unacceptable. I expect swift and decisive action from law enforcement, especially the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the State Bureau of Investigation (DBR), and the Prosecutor General’s Office. I’ve called an NSDC meeting to address this.”

The scandal gained traction after Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin shed the light on the  investigation into prosecutors falsely obtaining disability status. According to the report, at least 61 prosecutors from the Khmelnytskyi region were listed as having disabilities that allows hefty disability benefits, thought 80% of them applied for this status before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Earlier, Censor.NET editor Yuriy Butusov revealed that 50 prosecutors from Khmelnytskyi, led by regional prosecutor Oleh Oliynyk, had exploited a corrupt scheme involving MSEC and the Pension Fund to falsely claim disability benefits. This scheme allegedly was plotted by “Servant of the People” local council member Kropyva.