Ukraine president

KIEV: Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Monday he had fired a close ally and defence official over a corruption scandal, seeking to distance himself from the controversy weeks before seeking re-election.

Oleg Gladkovsky, deputy head of the national security council, profited from the sale of smuggled Russian military parts to state defence companies at inflated prices, according to a report last week by an independent media outlet.

Poroshenko, who is not accused of involvement, is seeking re-election at the March 31 presidential vote and in opinion polls comes in second to a comedian who plays the Ukrainian head of state in a TV comedy.

However, the report by the Bihus. Info investigative journalism unit has accused Poroshenko of turning a blind eye to protect former business partner Gladkovsky.

“This morning... I signed a decree dismissing Oleg Gladkovsky from the post,” Poroshenko said during a campaign visit to the south of the country.

He called for a criminal probe opened by the anti-corruption prosecutor’s office to be completed as soon as possible.

Accusations of self-enrichment at the expense of the army are particularly damaging in Ukraine, which has been fighting Russianbacked separatists in the east since 2014. — AFP