After a proper examination, the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine (PGO) has opened a criminal case on the illegal suspension of state purchases of bulletproof vests intended for army by the officials of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine.
“According to the results of the examination conducted by the PGO
Main Directorate on Citizens’ Rights and Freedoms, the State’s
Interests, and Battling Corruption and Crime in Transport Sector, a
criminal case on the illegal suspension of state purchases of
bulletproof vests by the officials of the Antimonopoly Committee of
Ukraine has been opened,” the PGO’s press service reported on June 20.
According to the PGO, by doing so officials created a threat to
national security and defense capacity, and caused severe damage to the
state’s interests by ruining the reputation of the Antimonopoly
Committee of Ukraine.
The information about the offence was put to the unified register of
pre-trial investigations under Part 1, Article 364 of the Criminal Code
of Ukraine (abuse of power or authority). The pre-trial investigation
has started.
As reported, on June 20, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
Oleksandr Turchynov asked the PGO to investigate the obstruction by
officials of the Antimonopoly Committee of the rapid procurement of
domestically produced bulletproof vests for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
“I am asking the prosecutor general to consider the question of
actions by the Antimonopoly Committee and arrest those responsible
today, those who stop the supply of bulletproof vests for the army,
those who did it!” he said at a parliament meeting on Friday.
Before that, Acting Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Koval
informed MPs about problems with the purchase of Korsar bulletproof
vests (fourth degree of protection) for the Armed Forces. He noted that
the problems with the purchase were triggered due to the actions of
Antimonopoly Committee officials who are delaying the procurement
procedure.
According to the head of the Defense Ministry, the Defense Ministry
plans to buy 28,000 Ukrainian bulletproof vests at Hr 4,100 per vest,
whereas the Antimonopoly Committee, blocking the procurement procedure,
proposes purchasing other vests at Hr 17,000 per vest.
Koval said that the Defense Ministry had already purchased 14,000 vests.
