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USA TodayAug 03, 2023
Zelenskyy Slams Corruption As Lawmaker Probed for Luxury Trip
Image copyright: [via Ukraine's Presidential Press Office]
The Facts
Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a rebuke to his country's public servants that are engaged in corruption on Tuesday — warning them that "there will not be any of you" in his nightly address.
Zelenskyy said: "No one will forgive MPs, judges, military commissars or any other officials for putting themselves in opposition to the state...For any public official, this is a betrayal of state principles, a betrayal of the interests of society."
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Zelenskyy understands that if Ukraine is to join NATO or the EU, it has to clamp down on its problem of corruption that existed long before the war with Russia. He is rightly taking steps to eradicate this problem and should be commended for taking Ukraine in the right direction.
Establishment-critical narrative
Despite Zelenskyy's public pronouncements, he himself has been at the center of corruption allegations to the tune of several hundred million dollars. How can he be taken seriously on corruption if he's also involved?