Corruption During War in Ukraine Will Be Equated to State Treason

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is preparing to draft a bill that equates corruption during wartime with state treason. This was reported by 'Ukrainska Pravda', with Zelensky stating this in an interview with Nataliya Moseichuk, which was aired on television.

“I have set a task, and my proposals to equate corruption during wartime with state treason will be presented to the Ukrainian legislature. I understand that such measures cannot function permanently in society, but during wartime, I believe it will help,” he emphasized.

According to Zelensky, the relevant legislative initiative will be sent to the Verkhovna Rada next week. He stated that identifying corruption with treason would be a very serious tool. “But this is not a death penalty; this is not Stalinism. If there is evidence, a person should be behind bars,” he stressed.

The Ukrainian Criminal Code prescribes punishment for state treason (Article 111) with imprisonment for a period of twelve to fifteen years, with or without confiscation of property. One of the corruption articles of the Ukrainian Criminal Code, Article 368-2, ‘Illegal Enrichment’, prescribes a maximum punishment of imprisonment for five to ten years, depriving the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to three years, along with confiscation of property.