Pyshny should fire Zima: court decisions and criminal case call into question the professionalism of the NBU's chief lawyer
Kyiv • UNN
Director of the NBU's legal department Oleksandr Zima may lose his position due to the illegal liquidation of Concord Bank and criminal proceedings. A case has been opened against him for abuse of office.
Chairman of the National Bank of Ukraine Andriy Pyshny should make a decisive decision on the further tenure of Oleksandr Zima as director of the NBU's legal department. This becomes especially relevant against the background of high-profile events that call into question the professionalism and integrity of the chief lawyer of the National Bank, writes UNN.
The decisions of the courts of first and appellate instances recognized the liquidation of Concord bank as illegal, noting that the actions of the NBU did not comply with the current legislation. In this process, the role of the legal department under the leadership of Alexander Zima was key. Responsibility for preparing documents that eventually led to the judicial recognition of the National Bank's actions as illegal raises serious questions about its competence. Or it may indicate that winter is ready to follow any, even illegal instructions of the management.
In addition, criminal proceedings have been opened against Alexander Zima on the fact of possible abuse of office.
The case concerns A Letter by Alexander Zima to the individuals ' Deposit Guarantee Fund, in which he, on behalf of the National Bank, recommended that the DGF withdraw claims filed by Concord Bank against the NBU even before the decision to liquidate the bank.
The deposit guarantee fund listened to this recommendation, which, according to Concord bank co-founder Elena Sosedka, deprived shareholders of their constitutional right to a fair trial.
The prosecutor's office referred the case to the Pechersk Police Department for investigation.
After that, investigators recognized Elena and Yulia Sosedki as victims in the Winter case, which automatically confirmed that the official's actions caused harm. Experts interviewed by UNN indicate that the next step in the investigation of this criminal proceeding should be to interrogate winter and serve him with a notice of suspicion.
Zima's actions also harmed the state. After all, they call into question the independence of the DGF Directorate and negatively affect Ukraine's interaction with international financial institutions. In particular, this may cause serious concern to the International Monetary Fund, which pays special attention to the work of the financial sector of our country.
Investigative actions in the case are still ongoing, and this further deepens the crisis of confidence in the head of the legal department. After all, winter is probably involved in manipulations that directly contradict the interests of the state and Concord shareholders.
The presence of an official with such a controversial reputation among the management of the National Bank threatens the image of the regulator as an independent and professional institution. At a time when the NBU should serve as a symbol of transparency and stability of the banking system, such precedents only undermine the trust of businesses, international partners and citizens.
Experts note that Andriy Pyshny, as the head of the NBU, must demonstrate integrity and immediately dismiss Oleksandr Zima. This decision will be an important signal of the National Bank's readiness for reforms and confirmation of the high standards of transparency required by both the Ukrainian society and the international community.
