Zelensky removes PG Venediktova, Security Service chief Bakanov

By two decrees dated July 17, President Volodymyr Zelensky has removed the Prosecutor General Irina Venediktova and the head of the SBU, Ivan Bakanov. This is evidenced from Zelensky's decrees No. 499 and No. 500 on the website of the Office of the President.

"In accordance with the second part of Article 11 of the Law of Ukraine 'On the Legal Regime of Martial Law' I decree: Remove VENEDIKTOVA Iryna Valentynivna from the position of Prosecutor General," the presidential decree reads.

By the subsequent decree, Zelensky assigned the duties of the Prosecutor General to Oleksiy Symonenko.

At the same time, Zelensky decided to remove Bakanov from the duties of the head of the Security Service of Ukraine in accordance with Article 47 of the Disciplinary Statute of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Background

In June, Politico wrote that Zelensky may dismiss Ivan Bakanov from the post of head of the Security Service of Ukraine allegedly because of traitors within the SBU.

However, Zelensky later said that "if I wanted to fire him, I would have done it already." The President said that after the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine,  he inititated inspections of the work of law enforcement agencies, including the Security Service. Based on their results, personnel decisions are being made.