Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Vyhivskyi stated during the Government Question Time in the Verkhovna Rada that two National Police officers involved in the criminal proceedings regarding Operation 'Karthage' will face criminal charges and be dismissed in the near future. According to RBC-Ukraine, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced this during parliamentary hearings while commenting on the progress of the investigation, which has become one of the most high-profile cases in the country's law enforcement sector in recent weeks.
Who Exactly is Being Suspended from Service
According to Vyhivskyi, we are talking about two officials: the deputy head of the Department of Strategic Investigations of the National Police and an employee of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Kyiv Oblast. Both individuals have already been suspended from their duties, and criminal proceedings have been initiated against them, according to the minister. Thus, the 'Karthage' case continues to expand the circle of current law enforcement officers held accountable.
Chronology: Suspension Before the Broadcast
Vyhivskyi emphasized that the ministry learned about the relevant procedural actions at the moment they began — in the morning, when the defendants were suspended from their official duties even before the corresponding investigative report went on air. According to the minister, an internal investigation is currently underway, following which both employees will be dismissed. He stressed that the decision on dismissal has already been made in a working order and will be implemented in the near future.
Context: What is Known About Operation 'Karthage'
To recap, on November 4, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office released new audio recordings regarding the case. According to the investigation data, the ring included at least 12 people, including active officials of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), the Prosecutor General's Office, and the National Police. On the same day, SSU Head Oleksandr Poklad dismissed two high-ranking special service officers involved in the NABU investigation under Operation 'Karthage' from their posts.
Broader Picture: Tsenov's Suspension and Further Steps
Later, the first deputy head of the National Police Department of Strategic Investigations, Volodymyr Tsenov, was suspended from his position for the duration of the internal investigation into the 'Karthage' case. The combination of these steps — from dismissals in the SSU to suspensions in the National Police and the minister's statement in parliament — indicates that the investigation has moved into a phase of systematic personnel verification at the leadership level of specialized agencies. Final decisions regarding each of the defendants, according to Vyhivskyi, will be made based on the results of internal audits.
