Semen Kryvonos emphasized that the bureau’s activities remain independent.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau has denied information about the alleged influence of the MP from the banned OPZZH party Fedor Khrystenko on the work of the institution. NABU Director Semen Kryvonos emphasized in his comments that none of the parliamentarians had the opportunity to put pressure on him personally or on the activities of the bureau. At the same time, he announced the start of an official investigation, which was initiated after the SBU’s statements.
According to Kryvonos, if the internal audit confirms the facts of illegal actions by NABU employees, the materials will be transferred to the competent authorities, and the society will receive official conclusions. He also emphasized in a comment to Radio Liberty that there is no conflict or confrontation between NABU and SBU, and relations with the head of the special service, Vasyl Malyuk, remain working.
“If the internal investigation moves forward, objective facts of the commission of a crime, for example, by our employee, will be established and we will make appropriate decisions. And I will appeal to the Security Service of Ukraine with a request to grant permission (this is important, because as part of official procedures we must obtain this permission), permission to disclose this information so that we can communicate the conclusions of the bureau’s internal investigation to the public,” the NABU director said on the air of the Svoboda Live program.
Suspicions against Khrystenko
The investigation claims that Khrystenko was recruited by the FSB even before the start of the large-scale war. He is accused of carrying out tasks for Russian intelligence, as well as contacts with a number of individuals associated with the FSB. In particular, the SBU stated his connections with Yuri Ivanyushchenko, known as Yura Yenakievsky, who is considered the Kremlin’s “watcher” of the so-called “DPR”. Khrystenko was also called an intermediary for the collaborator Armen Sarkisyan (Armen Gorlivsky), who died in Moscow in early 2025.
In addition, the case materials mention his contacts with individual NABU employees. The SBU indicates that the deputy had contact with the heads of the bureau – among them is the previously detained Ruslan Maghamedrasulov and the head of one of the detective units, Oleksandr Skomarov. Additionally, it was recorded that in 2022, Skomarov’s wife traveled abroad in a car that belonged to Khrystenko’s wife.
On September 6, Khrystenko was detained in the United Arab Emirates at the request of Ukraine. There was no official extradition, he was actually handed over to the Ukrainian side within the framework of political agreements. According to the publication, the process was coordinated by the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov on behalf of President Volodymyr Zelensky, and the Deputy Head of the Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Poklad went directly to the UAE.
Formally, the MP allegedly “voluntarily” agreed to return to Ukraine. His wife, Marina, linked the detention to the investigation into the “tapes” of businessman Timur Mindich, who is close to the president’s entourage.
Semen Kryvonos emphasized that the bureau’s activities remain independent.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau has denied information about the alleged influence of the MP from the banned OPZZH party Fedor Khrystenko on the work of the institution. NABU Director Semen Kryvonos emphasized in his comments that none of the parliamentarians had the opportunity to put pressure on him personally or on the activities of the bureau. At the same time, he announced the start of an official investigation, which was initiated after the SBU’s statements.
According to Kryvonos, if the internal audit confirms the facts of illegal actions by NABU employees, the materials will be transferred to the competent authorities, and the society will receive official conclusions. He also emphasized in a comment to Radio Liberty that there is no conflict or confrontation between NABU and SBU, and relations with the head of the special service, Vasyl Malyuk, remain working.
“If the internal investigation moves forward, objective facts of the commission of a crime, for example, by our employee, will be established and we will make appropriate decisions. And I will appeal to the Security Service of Ukraine with a request to grant permission (this is important, because as part of official procedures we must obtain this permission), permission to disclose this information so that we can communicate the conclusions of the bureau’s internal investigation to the public,” the NABU director said on the air of the Svoboda Live program.
The investigation claims that Khrystenko was recruited by the FSB even before the start of the large-scale war. He is accused of carrying out tasks for Russian intelligence, as well as contacts with a number of individuals associated with the FSB. In particular, the SBU stated his connections with Yuri Ivanyushchenko, known as Yura Yenakievsky, who is considered the Kremlin’s “watcher” of the so-called “DPR”. Khrystenko was also called an intermediary for the collaborator Armen Sarkisyan (Armen Gorlivsky), who died in Moscow in early 2025.
In addition, the case materials mention his contacts with individual NABU employees. The SBU indicates that the deputy had contact with the heads of the bureau – among them is the previously detained Ruslan Maghamedrasulov and the head of one of the detective units, Oleksandr Skomarov. Additionally, it was recorded that in 2022, Skomarov’s wife traveled abroad in a car that belonged to Khrystenko’s wife.
On September 6, Khrystenko was detained in the United Arab Emirates at the request of Ukraine. There was no official extradition, he was actually handed over to the Ukrainian side within the framework of political agreements. According to the publication, the process was coordinated by the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov on behalf of President Volodymyr Zelensky, and the Deputy Head of the Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Poklad went directly to the UAE.
Formally, the MP allegedly “voluntarily” agreed to return to Ukraine. His wife, Marina, linked the detention to the investigation into the “tapes” of businessman Timur Mindich, who is close to the president’s entourage.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *