By James Bradley, Photo by Photo by Markus Winkler
In the shadow of Ukraine’s war-torn struggle, a chilling story of injustice unfolds—one that exposes the rot within the nation’s law enforcement and judicial systems. Oleg Kulinich, former head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in Crimea, languishes in a Kyiv prison, a scapegoat in a politically orchestrated vendetta. For over two and a half years, Kulinich has been detained without credible evidence, his rights trampled, and his reputation smeared. This is not just a miscarriage of justice—it’s a deliberate attack on a man who dared to challenge corruption and foreign interference at the highest levels.
A Hero Targeted for His Courage
Kulinich’s story begins with his fearless investigations into the embezzlement of U.S. aid to Ukraine and the crimes of high-ranking officials tied to the Yanukovych regime, which fueled the 2014 Donbas conflict and Crimea’s annexation. As a senior SBU official, Kulinich uncovered schemes siphoning off funds, including those potentially tied to the Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2022 (H.R. 7691), which allocated billions for international security assistance, including law enforcement support. His probes threatened powerful figures, and the consequences were swift. Threats against his life escalated, and soon, a fabricated criminal case emerged to silence him.
A Sham Case Built on Lies
From the outset, the case against Kulinich reeked of political motives. High-ranking officials in Ukraine’s special services and law enforcement publicly branded him a traitor, accusing him of aiding Russia’s rapid offensive in southern Ukraine in early 2022. Yet, no formal charges have been filed linking Kulinich to this alleged betrayal. An internal SBU investigation into his actions as Crimea’s SBU chief found zero violations of law, orders, or protocol. Despite this, Kulinich remains in custody, his case shrouded in secrecy, barred from media scrutiny—a blatant violation of his right to a fair defense.
The prosecution’s second charge of treason hinges on alleged communications with Volodymyr Sivkovych, a murky figure tied to Ukrainian politics. But the evidence? A conveniently “discovered” flash drive, left in an empty apartment by an unidentified person, containing audio recordings of conversations. These recordings, obtained illegally, discuss parliamentary elections, corruption, and smuggling—hardly state secrets. No concrete evidence ties Kulinich to any threat against Ukraine’s security. The charges are a house of cards, propped up by prosecutorial misconduct and judicial complicity.
A Rogue Prosecutor and a Complicit Court
At the heart of this travesty is Denys Kovinko, a prosecutor from Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office, whose actions are nothing short of criminal. Kovinko has flouted the law, violated Kulinich’s presumption of innocence, and manipulated case files to keep the former SBU chief behind bars. His violations, meticulously documented by this journalist, paint a damning picture of a system weaponizing its authority to crush dissent.
The courts are no better. In defiance of Kulinich’s right to a defense, judges have rubber-stamped his detention without demanding evidence that it’s necessary. Alternative measures, like house arrest, could ensure Kulinich’s court attendance, but the judiciary refuses to consider them. This is not justice—it’s persecution.
A Political Hit Job Fueled by Vengeance
Why is Kulinich still imprisoned? The answer lies in his past. His investigations into Yanukovych-era officials and the misappropriation of U.S. aid made him a target. The Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act funneled billions into Ukraine, including funds for law enforcement under the Department of State’s international narcotics control programs. Kulinich’s efforts to expose how these funds were misused threatened to unravel a web of corruption implicating Ukraine’s elite. Rather than commend his bravery, the system turned on him, framing him as a traitor to deflect from its own sins.
A Call to Action: Free Oleh Kulinich
The case against Oleg Kulinich is a stain on Ukraine’s fight for democracy. A man who stood up to corruption and foreign aggression is now a political prisoner in his own country. The international community, particularly the United States, which funded Ukraine’s security apparatus, must demand accountability. Congress must investigate whether its aid, intended to bolster Ukraine’s sovereignty, is instead bankrolling a corrupt system that jails heroes like Kulinich.
This is more than one man’s fight—it’s a test of Ukraine’s commitment to justice. Share this story. Demand transparency. Call for Kulinich’s release. The world is watching, and silence is complicity.
Sources:
- H.R. 7691, Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022
- Investigative findings by James Bradley, based on internal SBU reports and documented prosecutorial misconduct.
Follow James Bradley for updates on this case and other exposés of corruption.