[Goose]

Corruption probes in Ukraine are getting uncomfortably close to Zelenskyy.

https://www.nbcnews.com/world/ukraine/an...rcna246298

Going to be tough to negotiate when important negotiators are clouded in controversy. On the other hand, long term, having a strong rule of law will benefit Ukraine vis a vis the corruption cesspool that is Russia.

BC

Unfortunately Ukraine does not have a strong rule of law. Corruption has been a way of life there for a long time, just as it was/is in Russia. I agree that there are more Ukrainians that are able to publicly speak their minds about corruption and the public norm is that there should be no corruption. Russians OTOH whisper about it, lament how it affects them personally, but have no way to create a public anti-corruption movement. Many of them are frankly looking for a way to take advantage via corruption of their own :-). Both Russia and Ukraine at the present require some level of corruption in order to function. The corruption in Russia is much more widespread and extends to more high-level people, but Ukraine has its own big problem.

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The vibe from the Ukrainians I follow on social media seems to be universal agreement this was a long time coming and a good development. I think if he wasn't removed it would be an issue for Zelensky. Z has a pretty long leash and hasn't been implicated in any corruption himself.

IMO Zelenskyy probably was trapped in an unfortunate Ukrainian reality. He had to have a "don't ask, don't tell" policy in some cases in order to acquire/maintain political power. There was just too much history of kickbacks and quid-pro-quo in Ukrainian government and industry to crusade against even in "normal" times. Some important functions undoubtedly depended on it. Rooting it out in the middle of a war would have been even harder, and Zelenskyy (being a shrewd politician) probably determined he couldn't get elected if he broke everyone's rice bowl. I do believe he did not personally benefit, but I wouldn't be at all surprised that he did know about a lot of it.

[Goose]

Corruption probes in Ukraine are getting uncomfortably close to Zelenskyy.

https://www.nbcnews.com/world/ukraine/an...rcna246298

Going to be tough to negotiate when important negotiators are clouded in controversy. On the other hand, long term, having a strong rule of law will benefit Ukraine vis a vis the corruption cesspool that is Russia.

BC

Unfortunately Ukraine does not have a strong rule of law. Corruption has been a way of life there for a long time, just as it was/is in Russia. I agree that there are more Ukrainians that are able to publicly speak their minds about corruption and the public norm is that there should be no corruption. Russians OTOH whisper about it, lament how it affects them personally, but have no way to create a public anti-corruption movement. Many of them are frankly looking for a way to take advantage via corruption of their own :-). Both Russia and Ukraine at the present require some level of corruption in order to function. The corruption in Russia is much more widespread and extends to more high-level people, but Ukraine has its own big problem.

---

The vibe from the Ukrainians I follow on social media seems to be universal agreement this was a long time coming and a good development. I think if he wasn't removed it would be an issue for Zelensky. Z has a pretty long leash and hasn't been implicated in any corruption himself.

IMO Zelenskyy probably was trapped in an unfortunate Ukrainian reality. He had to have a "don't ask, don't tell" policy in some cases in order to acquire/maintain political power. There was just too much history of kickbacks and quid-pro-quo in Ukrainian government and industry to crusade against even in "normal" times. Some important functions undoubtedly depended on it. Rooting it out in the middle of a war would have been even harder, and Zelenskyy (being a shrewd politician) probably determined he couldn't get elected if he broke everyone's rice bowl. I do believe he did not personally benefit, but I wouldn't be at all surprised that he did know about a lot of it.