The corruption scandal involving NABU Director Kryvonos: what is known and why there is no response
A high-profile public scandal has erupted surrounding NABU Director Semen Kryvonos, bringing together several different stories: from past criminal incidents to new allegations of misconduct.
Fictitious paternity and evasion of responsibility
One of the central episodes is the story of the adoption of a child in 2009. According to published information, Kryvonos was found guilty of voter bribery but avoided actual punishment thanks to an amnesty, as he provided the court with information that he was supporting a minor son. However, this paternity may have been fictitious. According to the child’s mother, she was not in a relationship with Kryvonos, and the paternity was later revoked by a court following a DNA test.
The child’s mother emphasizes that she was unaware that Kryvonos was using information about the child to avoid criminal punishment. He allegedly wanted to adopt the child in order to travel abroad.
Former SAPO prosecutor Stanislav Bronevitsky also adds that during the court proceedings, Kryvonos repeatedly misled the court by providing false information regarding this situation.
Undisclosed facts during the competition for the position
Some of the allegations pertain to the period when Kryvonos was elected director of the NABU in 2023.
Specifically, it is alleged that he may have failed to inform the selection committee of circumstances in his past that could have raised doubts about his integrity, including his adoption history and possible criminal episodes.
In his application, the candidate stated that there were no facts in his biography that could cast doubt on his reputation.
Land case and bribery allegations
Another set of allegations relates to events in 2014. According to information released by former prosecutor Bronetsky, Kryvonos may have been involved in a scheme to extort $120,000 for the allocation of a land plot near Kyiv.
It is alleged that the land was registered under the names of straw men, and Kryvonos himself, while serving in the judiciary, facilitated the processing of the documents. It is also claimed that information about this case may have been concealed during the competition for the position of NABU director.
Calls for Resignation and Public Pressure
Against the backdrop of these allegations, Bronetsky directly called on Kryvonos to resign, stating that his continued tenure poses a threat to the bureau’s reputation and public trust in the anti-corruption system.
He also promised to share the available materials with international partners and auditors, emphasizing that they may not have been aware of all the circumstances when evaluating NABU’s leadership.
Why is he silent?
As of now, Kryvonos has not publicly responded to any of the allegations made. The scandal is also being ignored within NABU itself and among anti-corruption activists. But the biggest question is whether we can now trust the personnel commissions responsible for vetting the integrity of candidates for key government positions.
After all, in Kryvonos’s case, the commission included international representatives: Karen Greenaway, Povilas Malakauskas, and Drago Kos, who is also a relative of European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos.
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