Nov. 13 (UPI) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sanctioned former business partner Timur Mindich on Thursday over his alleged role in $100 million corruption scandal involving the country’s energy sector.
A decree published by Zelensky’s office imposed “personal special economic” sanctions on 46-year-old Mindich — in absentia as he fled to Israel on Monday — including a freeze on his assets.
Prosecutors accused Mindich of heading up a racket in which kickbacks were paid by companies bidding for contracts at Energoatom, Ukraine’s state-run nuclear energy company. It was alleged that the scam netted the scheme as much as 10-15% of the value of the contracts.
Mindich, co-owned Kvartal 95, a TV production company founded by Zelensky before he became the president in 2019.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau raided his home in Kyiv Monday and he has been charged heading a criminal organization that used a secret office in the capital to launder millions of dollars worth of government funds
Mindich, has yet to comment.
Businessman Oleksandr Tsukerman was also sanctioned and charged alongside Mindich. Both men are Israeli citizens, according to the decree.
The sanctions will remain in place for three years.
Mindich and Tsukerman were among eight people charged by the NABU on Tuesday with bribery, abuse of office, and illicit enrichment.
The agency published tapes in which the group used code names and encrypted language to discuss alleged kickbacks and bribes for doing with business with Energoatom.
The development came a day after two senior member of Zelensky’s cabinet resigned their posts at Zelensky’s request over links to the same case.
Minister of Justice Herman Halushchenko and Minister of Energy Svitlana Hrynchuk quit after they were implicated in the corruption scandal.
Halushchenko was allegedly identified the audio tapes as “energy minister” or under the codename “Professor.”
Hrynchuk was alleged to have spent three nights at Halushenko’s apartment in July and August. She denied knowledge of the allegation and rejected suggestions she had done anything wrong.
While Halushchenko, who was energy minister from 2021 until July, said he accepted suspension was the correct step while the investigation was ongoing, he vowed to clear his name through the courts.
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko also announced on Wednesday that Energoatom Vice President and Management Board member Jacob Hartmut had been suspended on the basis of NABU evidence.
The supervisory board of Energoatom has also been dismissed.
Svyrydenko promised changes would be implemented to reform management and improve oversight of the company.
“Right now, things are extremely difficult for everyone in Ukraine — enduring power outages, Russian strikes, and losses,” Zelensky said.
“It is absolutely unacceptable that, on top of this, there are still some [corruption] schemes in the energy sector.”
