The former deputy was suspected of being involved in billion-dollar corruption schemes involving the subsoil of Ukraine

The former deputy was suspected of being involved in billion-dollar corruption schemes involving the subsoil of Ukraine facebook.com/SecurSerUkraine
Katerina Belousova

More than 1 billion hryvnias were spent on the development of the Sakhalin oil and gas field

Detectives of the Security Service and the State Bureau of Investigation conducted searches at the facilities of a former People's Deputy and a Russian oligarch, who may be involved in billion-dollar corruption schemes in Ukraine.

The searches were conducted as part of criminal proceedings on abuse of office by officials of Nadra Ukrainy JSC, in particular, regarding the loss of Ukraine's right to the Sakhalin oil and gas field in the Kharkiv region, the SBU reported on Facebook.

It is noted that according to the geological exploration work, gas deposits in this field reached at least 15 billion cubic meters.

According to the investigation, Ukraine lost the right to the field as a result of the illegal activities of Nadra Ukrainy officials and a number of commercial structures. In addition, more than 1 billion hryvnias were spent from the state budget on the development of the Sakhalin oil and gas field.

The press service said that the searches were conducted at the places of actual residence of the persons involved and in the office premises of the respective companies, the ultimate beneficiaries of which are the Russian oligarch and the People's Deputy of Ukraine of the VIII convocation. Detectives discovered and seized:

  • draft records and documentation that confirm illegal operations of commercial structures under their control;
  • means of communication and computer equipment;
  • about $300,000, €250,000 and 1.5 million hryvnias in cash.

"Currently, as part of the criminal proceedings under Art. 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (abuse of power or official position), complex investigative and operational measures are underway to establish all the circumstances of the crime and bring the culprits to justice," the message emphasized.

Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that the detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office reported the suspicion to the ex-Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine during the time of President Yanukovych.

As EcoPolitic previously reported, the Zakarpattia District Prosecutor's Office reported suspicions against the former head of the State Environmental Inspection in Zakarpattia Oblast for possession of scratch cards, so-called coupons, for 930 liters of fuel.

Related
Almost 10% of Ukraine’s water supply facilities fail to meet sanitary requirements
Almost 10% of Ukraine’s water supply facilities fail to meet sanitary requirements

Among non-centralised sources, nitrate levels exceed the norm in every fifth sample

Digest of environmental crimes of the week: pollution, forest felling and illegal subsoil use
Digest of environmental crimes of the week: pollution, forest felling and illegal subsoil use

Due to excessive discharge of mine water, an enterprise in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast has to pay over UAH 530 million

Low water continues: river water abstraction restricted for more than 90 enterprises in Ukraine
Low water continues: river water abstraction restricted for more than 90 enterprises in Ukraine

The limits will be restored if hydrological conditions return to normal after 15 November

EU criticises corruption risks in Ukraine’s environmental sector and the merger of ministries
EU criticises corruption risks in Ukraine’s environmental sector and the merger of ministries

Construction projects that harm nature conservation areas which are not yet properly protected are also mentioned separately