Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, has responded to anti-corruption wiretaps that allegedly mention his name during an investigation into his former deputy.
Speaking to journalists, Budanov said that the court should determine who appears on the recordings made by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine. He also confirmed that he had spoken with his former deputy, Iryna Mudra, following her dismissal and the formal notification of suspicion against her.
Budanov emphasized that dismissal is a legal process and stated that he does not turn away from people before final conclusions are reached by judicial authorities. He added that if the court ultimately finds Mudra guilty, that would be a different matter, while refraining from providing further details regarding the ongoing investigation.
Mudra remained in a pre-trial detention center as of Friday evening after failing to post a 20 million hryvnia bail. The High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine previously ordered her remanded in custody with the option of bail, which her defense lawyers said they had begun raising.
Anti-corruption investigation and corporate raiding allegations
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office suspect Mudra of participating in a criminal organization. Investigators allege that the group engaged in the corporate raiding of enterprises and conducted money laundering operations.
According to law enforcement agencies, the laundered funds were subsequently used to post bail for former Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko in a separate corruption investigation known as the Midas case.
Investigators believe the illicit funds were processed through the state-owned Sense Bank. The new case involves several high-profile figures, including officials from Sense Bank, current Member of Parliament Vadym Stolar, and former lawmaker Maksym Mykytas.
Background and broader political context
Mudra previously served as deputy head of the presidential office during the tenure of former office chief Andriy Yermak, before continuing in the same role under Budanov. The Office of the President of Ukraine serves as the primary administrative body assisting the head of state in executive governance and national administration.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office operate as Ukraine's primary independent bodies responsible for investigating high-level corruption. The High Anti-Corruption Court was established as a specialized judicial body to adjudicate corruption cases involving senior state officials.
The National Bank of Ukraine has initiated an inspection into commercial banking activities related to the bail payment made in the Midas case. Media coverage by Radio Svoboda has highlighted ongoing questions regarding potential executive actions by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and investigations into who may have issued directives to Mudra, alongside related coverage of a case designated as Forest Gump.
