He stole a billion from the state: how does ex-regional Omelianenko avoid sanctions?
The defendant in a high-profile case of the theft of hundreds of millions of hryvnias from the budget, ex-regional Alexey Omelianenko not only escaped punishment, but still continues to live in luxury and bring the “Russian world” to the masses – all thanks to close friendship with the scandalous MP Khalimon?
He deceived the state for a billion hryvnias, worked for Medvedchuk and continues to glorify the “Russian world”. And not just anywhere, but on the elite Pechersk Hills in Kyiv. A figure from the times of Yanukovych and a defendant in a high-profile criminal case, Aleksey Omelianenko strangely evaded responsibility a few years ago and still lives in grand style. Where did the ex-banker invest the funds stolen from the budget? And what does the odious MP of the ruling faction, Pavel Khalimon, have to do with it?
The details of the functioning of the “Russian world” cell in the center of Kyiv and the close ties of Omelianenko with a number of odious characters were investigated by the journalist “Stopbark» Natalya Digtyar.
Aleksey Omelianenko is a “financier” of the Yanukovych era. He is a former member of the supervisory board of Ukrgasbank and head of the Party of Regions faction in the Kyiv City Council. And also – a religious figure and philanthropist. For many years, it was Omelianenko who donated large sums to the churches of the Moscow Patriarchate.
True, the money that he invested so generously in the development of the Russian Orthodox Church was probably stolen from the state. Investigators found that during 2008-2010, Omelianenko, by prior agreement with the head of one of the directorates of Ukrgasbank, organized a scheme for the withdrawal of budget funds.
Compound of the ex-regional on the Pechersk Hills in the capital
The scheme of robbing the Ukrainian state was simple.
As law enforcement officers established during the investigation, the financier agreed with the head of one of the bank’s departments. The funds came as loans to the accounts of fictitious firms owned by Alexei himself. Then the money was withdrawn from these enterprises, and then their trail was lost somewhere offshore. No one returned the loans back to the bank. But in 2018, Omelianenko officially became a defendant in a criminal case on the withdrawal of one hundred million hryvnias from Ukrgasbank.
Aleksey Omelianenko was suspected of withdrawing state funds because of Ukrgasbank
In November 2018, the Prosecutor General’s Office completed the investigation. In February 2019, Omelianenko was taken into custody for 60 days, and the judge set a bail in the amount of 90 million hryvnias. True, already in April 2020, the amount of the deposit decreased by 30 times.
To support the ex-regional, his priest friends from the Moscow Patriarchate called for joint prayer in support of Alexei Omelianenko. Over time, either by the power of prayer, or with the help of a bribe, Omelianenko managed to get out “under a personal obligation” without paying a penny as bail.
Moreover, Themis did not even oblige the ex-banker not to leave Ukraine. His passport was not confiscated for storage, and there was no electronic bracelet.
Where is the odious “benefactor” Omelianenko now and what is he doing?
A few weeks ago, an article by Ukrayinska Pravda about the “servant of the people” Pavel Khalimon was aired. In particular, it became known that in the midst of a full-scale war, the politician acquired an expensive estate of five hundred square meters in the Pechersk Hills. And this mansion was sold to him by Alexander Drabinko, the ex-secretary of the late Bishop of the Moscow Patriarchate Vladimir Sabodan.
The estate of the national servant is located near the botanical garden. Grishka. The uniqueness of this place is that here you can live in a private estate literally five minutes from the very heart of the capital. Real estate here is owned by showbiz stars, businessmen and politicians such as Volodymyr Lytvyn, the infamous Bishop of the Pechersk Lavra Pasha “Mercedes” and ex-prime minister of the Yanukovych era Mykola Azarov.
Journalists of “UP” during the observation recorded several people who that day visited the people’s deputy from the ruling party. And among the so-called parishioners they saw a familiar face – the same Aleksey Omelianenko “lit up” while visiting Khalimon. This is not surprising, because he lives in the neighborhood – two houses from Khalimon.
Aleksei Omelianenko was spotted among the visitors of the estate of ”servant of the people” Pavel Khalimon
How testify records on the website of the Kyiv City Council, and close relatives of Omelianenko, his wife, mother and even niece Marina Stadnik, who at one time ran for deputies of the Kyiv City Council from the Opposition Platform for Life, received land allotments free of charge nearby.
The question arises: what does the “Moscow” church have to do with it?
At one time, the disgraced Omelianenko was supported and blessed by another priest – the rector of the Holy Intercession Monastery. It is at his address and registered pro-Russian international public organization “Day of the Baptism of Rus'”, which, in fact, created Alexey Omelyanenko.
“In 2006, representatives of the public, business circles, cultural and art workers, under the spiritual guidance of Archimandrite Isaac, united in the International Public Organization “Day of the Baptism of Rus’”. Oleg Krivosheya (Karamazov) was elected chairman of the organization. One of its main tasks was the creation of the tradition of the annual celebration of the Day of the Baptism of Rus’ by the peoples of Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and other countries, ”the website of the monastery says.
Another leader of the public organization is Yuri Molchanov, a former journalist and organizer of pro-Russian concerts in Kyiv. According to media reports, the whole trinity worked in conjunction with Putin’s godfather, Viktor Medvedchuk, through whom Russian money entered Ukraine.
The trinity of leaders of the NGO ”The Day of the Baptism of Rus”’ is closely connected with Medvedchuk
“In parallel with politics, Medvedchuk promoted the Russian Orthodox Church and the “Moscow Patriarchate” in Ukraine through his channels. Karamazov, Omelyanenko and especially Molchanov were regular guests on the air of 112 and NewsOne TV channels.”, — says Natalia Digtyar.
Does this center of the “Russian world” still function?
To find out, the editorial staff of StopCor tried to contact representatives of the NGO at the phone number specified during registration. In response, journalists were told that the organization was allegedly formally registered, but did not operate.
But when the reporters went to the place and began to ask about the public organization, representatives of the monastery assured that there had never been such a place.
Representatives of StopKor also tried to get a comment from Alexei Omelianenko personally, for which they visited his house several times. However, they said that the ex-banker does not live at this address. Efforts to contact him by phone proved fruitless.
Journalists arrived at Omelianenko’s house, but they were told that he did not live here
“That is, it turns out that there is a certain “service center” for pro-Russian collaborators, but they are trying to hide its existence with might and main. Perhaps to protect yourself from unnecessary attention?“- suggests the journalist.
Note that this question looks relevant against the background searchesheld by SBU officers in the churches of the Moscow Patriarchate.
And considering that at one time the odious champion of the “Russian world” stole budget money from the state bank and spent it on pro-Moscow propaganda and undermining the situation in the country, the competent authorities should obviously be interested in Mr. Omelianenko. For example, the SBU or the National Security and Defense Council, which could impose appropriate sanctions. We will continue to closely monitor this story and will provide new details in our next materials.