The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) is conducting an inquiry on President Petro Poroshenko’s orders to look into whether Ukrainian public officials “have any relatives,” who may cooperate with Russian special services, the self-proclaimed “Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics” (“LPR” and “DPR”), SBU spokeswoman Olena Hitlianska told Interfax-Ukraine.
“The SBU is carrying out a permanent inquiry looking into whether public servants may have some ties with the occupied Crimea, the ‘LPR,’ the ‘DPR,’ and Russia,” she said.
“If we uncover the facts of ties between public officials and hostile special services, and the facts that they have relatives, who are cooperating with Russia, the ‘LPR’ or the ‘DPR,'” decisions will be made in line with the current legislation, Hytlianska said.
On December 16, President Poroshenko ordered SBU chief Vasyl Hrytsak that the Counterintelligence Department of his special service will look into whether public servants have any relatives, who are Russian citizens, and if proper grounds are found those public officials will be held accountable up to their dismissal.
