Ukraine’s Acting Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko made a public statement in which he clearly declared that he does not plan to voluntarily leave his post amid the NABU investigation into the so-called “Carthage” case. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing Ukrinform. Kravchenko emphasized that the decision on his resignation can be made exclusively through legal procedures — by the team, the President, or the Verkhovna Rada. “There are legal procedures. I am not clinging to my position and I never will. This is a decision for the team, the President, or the Verkhovna Rada. I have not made such a decision at this point,” the Prosecutor General stated while speaking with journalists.

Context of the “Carthage” Case and Kravchenko’s Position

The statement came against the backdrop of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office revealing details of a special operation called “Carthage,” which concerns the so-called “umbrella” (protection) over illegal call centers and the legalization of assets obtained as a result of their activities. The day before, Kravchenko had already commented on mentions of himself in NABU recordings and accusations of possible involvement in shielding fraudulent call centers. The Prosecutor General refuted these claims, as well as any link to a safe containing money, his family’s travels, the purchase of a laptop, and home repairs in Kozyn.

“The Court, Not the Detective, Makes the Final Call”

The key point in his speech was Kravchenko’s emphasis that in Ukraine, questions of accountability must be resolved strictly within the framework of the law. “The court makes the final call, not the detective or the investigator,” he stressed, thereby drawing a clear line between the role of investigative bodies and the final legal assessment. The Prosecutor General also noted that he has answers to the questions raised about him in the context of the case, in particular regarding his family and financial situation, as well as his own expenses. He added: “But if you think I should write a resignation letter — that is your opinion.”

Contradictory Data

There is a significant gap between the position of the investigative bodies and the statements of the Prosecutor General himself. On the one hand, NABU and the SAP revealed details of the “Carthage” special operation, within which, according to the investigation, Kravchenko is mentioned in recordings, along with issues related to financial transactions and property. On the other hand, Kravchenko himself categorically refutes all accusations, denies any link to the safe, his family’s travels, or home repairs, and insists that only the court can provide a final assessment. Thus, at this point, both sides are holding opposing narratives: the investigation treats the materials as grounds for continuing the proceedings, while the Prosecutor General interprets them as unproven claims that are not subject to public evaluation until a court decision.

Political Consequences and Next Steps

Kravchenko’s statement effectively cemented the status quo: the Prosecutor General remains in office and is not initiating his own resignation. This means that the decision on his future will depend on the political will of the country’s leadership and the position of the Verkhovna Rada. Given that the “Carthage” case is at the stage of revealing details, any further steps by the investigation or statements by Kravchenko will be viewed in the context of the struggle for legitimacy and trust in Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions.