KYIV — Former Ukrainian Prosecutor-General Ruslan Ryaboshapka, who was forced out in a parliamentary vote of no confidence two months ago, is now under investigation.
Ukraine’s Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office told RFE/RL on May 6 that it had opened “criminal proceedings” against Ryaboshapka for what the Criminal Code describes as “declaring false information” and “accepting an offer, promise, or obtaining an illicit benefit by an official.”
“We have complied with a court’s decision and filed a case at the Unified Register of Pretrial Investigations on Prior Legal Qualification under Articles 366-1 and Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine,” the office’s representatives said.
Ryaboshapka was not available for immediate comment.
Ryaboshapka was well-regarded by anti-corruption activists for his efforts to streamline and professionalize the scandal-ridden Prosecutor-General’s Office.
The 43-year-old Ryaboshapka made headlines last year as one of the officials to decide whether to launch a probe into former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter over the younger Biden’s role at energy firm Burisma Holdings. The case was entangled in the impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Ryaboshapka served as prosecutor-general from August 29, 2019, until March 5.