Irina Venediktova. Archival photoMOSCOW, July 17Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Prosecutor General Irina Venediktova and Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Ivan Bakanov from their positions, the Strana.ua portal reported, citing relevant decrees. As indicated in the documents, the President dismissed Bakanov in accordance with Article 47 of the Disciplinary Charter of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The resignation of Venediktova took place in accordance with part 2 of article 11 of the law «On the legal regime of martial law.» Zelensky himself, in a video message on his Telegram channel, said that the removal of the security forces was connected with the facts of treason on the part of employees of departments. Thus, 651 criminal proceedings were registered under articles on treason and collaborationist activities. Employees of the prosecutor's office, pre-trial investigation and other bodies pass through them. The President stressed that such a number of crimes against national security, as well as connections «recorded between employees of the law enforcement agencies of Ukraine and the Russian special services raise very serious questions for the relevant leaders.» Venediktova held her post since March 2020, before that she was and. about. Director of the State Bureau of Investigations. Oleksiy Simonenko has been appointed acting Prosecutor General. Bakanov has been the head of the SBU since August 2019, previously he worked as the first deputy head of the department. branches of government on the way to the European Union
