Gas schemes: Ukrainian oligarch Firtash has been served with notices of suspicion

Ukrainian oligarch Dmytro Firtash and top managers of his companies have been served with notices of suspicion – the Economic Security Bureau and the Security Service of Ukraine and the Security Service of Ukraine. 

On May 15, the Economic Security Bureau and the Security Service of Ukraine reported about the uncovering of “a large-scale scheme of stealing gas from Ukraine’s gas transmission system.”

“Sanctioned oligarch Dmytro Firtash and the top managers of companies he controls are involved in the scheme. Among them are the managers of the Regional Gas Company (RGC), which covers 70% of all gas distribution networks of Ukraine through 20 city and regional gas supply companies. During 2021, the illegal activities of the participants caused damages of more than UAH 4.2 billion to the state’s budget. This is confirmed by forensic economic examination data. According to preliminary estimates, the total amount of damage may exceed UAH 18 billion over the period 2016 to 2022,” the statement reads.

According to the investigation, “officials of Firtash-controlled regional gas supply companies embezzled the lion’s share of the funds intended for the purchase of blue fuel.”

“In fact, they embezzled the money of ordinary Ukrainians who paid utility bills. RGC transferred the tariff funds received from gas consumers to the Firtash-controlled Ye Energy company allegedly as a prepayment for gas supply, but in fact did not supply it.  In order to cover the deficit, RGC took gas from the state-owned Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine through the regional gas supply companies controlled by it  in a much larger volume than it paid for,” the Economic Security Bureau informs.

Dmytro Firtash, three top managers of RGC and five heads of regional gas supply companies were notified of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 27, Part 5 of Article 191, Part 3 of Article 27, Part 3 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (misappropriation, embezzlement or conversion or property by malversation committed on a particularly large scale by an organized group, legalization (laundering) of criminally obtained money and other property).  

Five persons have been notified of suspicions in absentia becauses they are hiding abroad.

Ukraine Front Lines

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