Anti-corruption investigators search Ukraine's central bank, governor's office reportedly targeted
Ukraine's anti-corruption investigators searched the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) on October 21, with media reports indicating that the office of central bank governor Andriy Pyshnyy was among the locations searched.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) confirmed that its detectives, working under the supervision of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), were conducting searches at the central bank's premises and the residence of one of its employees.
"No one has been detained or notified of suspicion," NABU said, adding that the searches were legally authorized. The agency did not identify the employee or disclose details of the investigation.
Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing sources in political circles, that investigators were searching Pyshnyy's office. Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak separately said the searches were taking place in the governor's office.
NABU has not confirmed that Pyshnyy is personally under investigation.
The searches come amid earlier reports of tensions between Pyshnyy and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In August, Bloomberg reported, citing unnamed sources, that Zelenskyy was dissatisfied with the central bank governor's close ties to the International Monetary Fund and his handling of Ukraine's wartime economy.
The reason for the October 21 searches remains unknown.