Ministry of Economy responds to transfer of criminal proceedings against Deputy Minister Vysotskyi to court
The Ministry of Economy has reacted to the transfer of criminal proceedings against Deputy Minister Taras Vysotskyi to court by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, emphasizing the need to strictly observe the principle of presumption of innocence. This is stated in the message of the Ministry of Economy, the Ukrainian News agency reports.
"Any accusations cannot be considered proven until the court makes a decision. It is the court that must establish all the circumstances of the case, evaluate the evidence and make the final decision," the statement said.
The ministry emphasized that in the first months of russia's full-scale invasion, the key task of the state was to promptly provide food to the population, and the decisions made then were often made in conditions of extreme uncertainty, logistical gaps and a critical need for a quick response.
"It was thanks to management decisions and coordination, in particular on the part of Taras Vysotskyi, that we managed to avoid interruptions in food supplies and ensure food security in the most difficult period. We draw attention to the importance of a balanced approach to public assessments in such cases, especially in times of war, when the Ukrainian agricultural sector needs stability and support," the ministry said.
The Ministry of Economy emphasizes that an objective, impartial and professional consideration of the case in court is the only basis for conclusions and decisions.
On April 8, NABU and SAPO reported that they had sent to court the case of the former First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food (now Deputy Minister of Economy, Ecology and Agriculture) and the former Deputy Minister of Economy, who are accused of abuses worth almost UAH 64 million during the purchase of food by Ukrzaliznytsia JSC to meet the needs of the state during the war.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, in September 2023, the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office asked the court to remove Taras Vysotskyi, then First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, from office.
Vysotskyi was served a notice of suspicion of committing a criminal offense under Part 2 of Article 364 (abuse of power or official position that caused grave consequences) of the Criminal Code. He is suspected of abuse during the procurement of humanitarian aid.
In August 2023, the High Anti-Corruption Court imposed a bail of UAH 805,200 on the First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Taras Vysotskyi.