Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin resigns amid medical commissions scandal

Source:  Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Office

Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said on Tuesday he is stepping down as prosecutors are taking the heat over multiple corruption scandals involving the Medical and Social Expert Commissions (MSECs).

His resignation came after  president Volodymyr Zelensky called up a National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) meeting to address the “morally unacceptable” situation wherscores of prosecutors were found obtaining the disability status that grants hefty benefits and medical exemption from the military service.

The strong public reaction made Prosecutor General Office launch several investigations that saw prosecutors abusing their power to dole out such benefits to themselves and their family members.  The departing chief prosecutor expressed support for President Zelensky’s firm call for the swift overhaul of legislation and cancelations of fake disability statuses

Kostin said, “I believe it is absolutely right that there should be personal responsibility, including political accountability, for this situation.”

In his final statement, he said his stepping down is the appropriate course of action given the circumstances.

During the Tuesday meeting of the country’s national security council, Zelenskyy said the medical commission serviice must be ‘digitalized’ and given a thorough audit.  He also hinted at an imminent reshuffle at some key ministries and prosecution offices, indirectly pointing a finger at Kostin’s oversight.