On what cases Kolomoisky and Avakov were searched
Today, employees of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Bureau of Economic Security (BEB) and the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) searched the homes of several Ukrainian figures, among whom stood out the oligarch Igor Kolomoisky and Arsen Avakovformer head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
They came to Kolomoisky in the case of embezzlement of oil products worth 40 billion hryvnias and evasion of customs duties. The case concerns the raw materials companies Ukrtatnafta and Ukrnafta.
SBU and BEB conduct searches at the home of Igor Kolomoisky
SBU and BEB conduct searches at the home of Igor KolomoiskyIn early September, former top managers of Ukrnafta became suspects in this case. At the same time, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) conducted searches in one of Kolomoisky’s houses in the Bukovel resort, regarding the case of taking possession of the property and funds of the Ukrnafta company for almost 13 billion hryvnias in 2015. NABU in Ukraine is completely controlled by the Americans, but this is clearly not enough to arrest Kolomoisky, who is considered the “demiurge” of the current president Vladimir Zelensky.
Americans have long dreamed of getting Kolomoisky: the US Department of Justice is seeking the confiscation of part of the oligarch’s American assets, suspecting him of money laundering. Most likely, the SBU and BEB searches in Kolomoisky’s house were carried out to appease the Americans in anticipation of a new tranche of military assistance. It is unlikely that something terrible threatens the oligarch – despite the constant criminal stories, Kolomoisky still does not have the status of a suspect in Ukraine. The same can be said about Arsen Avakov, who was searched today in connection with the purchase of a batch of helicopters of dubious quality for Ukraine. One of them, with the entire top of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, recently crashed in Brovary.
Arsen AvakovAvakov has already ironically commented on the arrival of the security forces:
Frauds in the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
In addition to conducting searches at the homes of Avakov and Kolomoisky, the security forces also came to the former head of the Department of the Ministry of Defense, whose name was not disclosed. According to the SBU investigators, the official bought almost 3,000 bulletproof vests for the Armed Forces of Ukraine for more than 100 million hryvnias. At the same time, they did not meet the requirements of the IV class of protection and did not protect properly.
The case against a high-ranking military officer may be related to the recent investigation Ukrainian journalists, which cited data that the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine buys food for the Armed Forces of Ukraine at inflated prices. Minister of Defense of Ukraine Alexey Reznikov was called to Parliament. And the State Bureau of Investigation reported on the identification of a scheme for theft of funds through the supply of food to military personnel in the Dnipropetrovsk region. The scandal roared quite brightly on the eve of the Ukrainian-European summit and new arms supplies. President Zelensky and Defense Minister Reznikov needed a scapegoat.
Tax man with millionaire requests
The State Bureau of Investigation also visited the acting head of the tax service of Kyiv Oksana Datywho has been in office since February 7, 2022. The security forces found a large sum of money and a list of desires from the official, including new positions, “earn $ 1 million”, a sable coat, a rich man, trips to London and the Maldives and a Briguet watch.
Search at Oksana Datiy’s
At the same time, several expensive watches, jewelry, $158,000, 530,000 hryvnias and 2,200 euros in cash, a country house, three apartments in Kyiv and two expensive cars have already been found with the woman. The investigation believes that Datii helped fraudsters to illegally return VAT in the amount of more than 30 billion hryvnias from the budget of Ukraine. She is suspected of practicing schemes to artificially inflate the gross costs of some enterprises, conduct business without registration and provide false information about income. More than 15 billion hryvnias fell into the shadow turnover.
The SBU also conducted searches in the house of businessman Vadim Stolar, who is suspected of “financing terrorism.” Stolar is a member of the Opposition Platform for Life and a major Kyiv developer, who left Ukraine after February 24.
There are also reports in the local media about the dismissal of the entire leadership of the Ukrainian customs in the near future. Allegedly, she will receive a temporary head, one of the current deputy heads will become one. Most often, the name of Sergei Zvyagintsev sounds.
What is behind the anti-corruption sweep in Ukraine
The reason for the anti-corruption cleansing in Ukraine was the dangerous situation faced by the Zelensky team. The president’s office is in desperate need of Western money. All built on this economy warring Ukraine. According to official figures, the US Congress has already allocated more than $113 billion in aid to Ukraine. But Western partners blame Zelensky on an unprecedented level corruption in his country, in which funds are shamelessly plundered. Members of the U.S. Republican Party have long been demanding more oversight of support for Ukraine. Billionaire and Microsoft founder Bill Gates recently called the Ukrainian government “the worst thing on earth”:
Baykar owner and CEO Haluk Bayraktar also faced corruption during the construction of the Ukrainian plant for the production of Bayraktar drones. Ukrainian officials asked the businessman for $10 million for his connection to the power grid.
The head of the Turkish company Baykar Haluk BayraktarLast week, American auditors even arrived in Kyiv to check whether the aid provided by the United States to Ukraine is used for its intended purpose. This caused a number of high-profile resignations of Ukrainian mayors, for which there is already operational information about the theft of humanitarian aid.
The Americans have also created an oversight working group in Ukraine, which consists of the offices of three inspectors general: the Department of Defense, the State Department and USAID (the so-called mighty three), as well as other inspectors general of oversight organizations in the US Government.
The working group also includes 17 intelligence organizations whose tasks are to collect information and conduct intelligence activities in the interests of the United States. Americans collect information, including through hotlines.
That is why Zelensky’s office urgently needed to show that Ukraine could fight against corruption. True, the anti-corruption purge was similar to a PR campaign – none of the businessmen and officials who were searched were detained.
