Rep. Spartz voices new concerns about Zelensky's Chief-of-Staff
Photo by Getty Images
Congresswoman Victoria Spartz sent another letter to US President Joe Biden
The congresswoman reported in the latest press release.
In the letter, she insisted on paying attention to the latest events in Ukraine, including additional concerns surrounding the head of Ukrainian President Zelensky's administration, Andrii Yermak.
Spartz also called on the Biden administration to establish a joint task force within the US Department of Defense.
The group could implement a coordinated strategy for proper oversight of critical infrastructure and streamlined logistics of lethal aid to Ukraine.
This letter is a follow-up to the July 8 letter from the congresswoman to the Biden administration, where she asked the administration to inform Congress about Andrii Yermak, the chief of staff of Ukraine's presidential administration.
"The lack of appointment of an anti-corruption prosecutor, concerns raised by our military personnel and defense contractors, as well as some NATO allies, raise national security concerns and require proper attention from the Biden Administration," Spartz said in a statement on the website.
Rep. Spartz puts at risk US bipartisan support to Ukraine by questioning Zelensky's closest ally
In the letter, Spartz claims that Yermak is delaying the appointment of an anticorruption prosecutor.
"Under recent pressure, Kyiv finally proceeded with the appointment of Oleksandr Klymenko as anticorruption prosecutor after stalling for almost two years by Oleh Tatarov, Mr. Yermak's appointee.
Although, this process has not yet been completed and requires additional actions from the prosecutor general. Kyiv also recently removed Iryna Venediktova as prosecutor general.
It appears that Mr. Yermak may try to appoint a partisan prosecutor through Zelensky's parliamentary majority (appointed by party
leadership), which effectively could sabotage Mr. Klymenko's work," the congresswoman claims.
She urged the Biden administration to monitor these processes.
Spartz also warned Biden about the "alarming accumulation of power by Mr. Yermak," pointing to personnel changes in key positions.
Another example of abuse of power is the "recent issuance of secret executive orders to revoke Ukrainian citizenships without proper due process."
Besides, as the congresswoman points out, one of the problems was raised by a licensed US defense contractor.
He expressed concern about the Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, appointed by Yermak in April, Denys Sharapov.
"Mr. Sharapov is known to be a business partner of Andriy Yermak, Borys Yermak (Andrii's father, who retired from the Russian FSB), and Russian citizen Rahamim Emanuilov, who has prior
connections to Iran and Afghanistan, and a current connection to Vladimir Putin," Rep. Spatz emphasized in her letter.
In a high-profile interview with European Pravda, Congresswoman Victoria Spartz stressed the alleged obstacles in establishing oversight of American military aid to Ukraine.
After that, the USA, the EU, and NATO stated that they had no objections to Ukraine's use of Western weapons.
The Ukrainian parliament, Verkhovna Rada, supported the creation of a commission to oversee the supply of Western weapons to Ukraine.
Minister of Defense Oleksii Reznikov announced after the fourth Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting that Ukraine would accelerate its transition to the LOGFAS NATO standard arms control system.
