Daughter of ex-mayor of Poltava detained for working for Kremlin headquarters
11 June 2024 15:12
The Security Service of Ukraine has served a 36-year-old daughter of the former mayor of Poltava with a notice of suspicion of collaboration with the Russian Federation. According to the investigation, the suspect collaborated with Russia during the Russian elections in 2022 and 2023, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
The woman owns an advertising agency in St. Petersburg, which took part in the PR campaign of the pro-government Russian party United Russia. While in Kyiv, she remotely managed the business in Russia and ordered the use of her company’s advertising stands to spread pro-Kremlin propaganda in the run-up to the election.
During her cooperation with Putin’s party, the suspect made a profit of more than 35 million Russian rubles, part of which was transferred to her accounts in the form of dividends.
During the searches of the detainee’s home and offices, law enforcement officers found computer equipment, mobile phones and financial statements related to cooperation with Russia. All of the woman’s property, including 3 apartments in Kyiv, a car and shares in Ukrainian companies, was seized. This property was valued at over UAH 270 million.
The collaborator is currently in custody without the right to be released on bail. She faces up to 12 years in prison. The pre-trial investigation is conducted by the SBU under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office.
Law enforcement officials have not disclosed the identity of the detained woman, but according to a number of media outlets, it is Natalia Veretennikova, maiden name Mamai, who is the daughter of the former mayor of Poltava, Oleksandr Mamai.
Her father, Oleksandr Mamai, is remembered for his pro-Russian political stance and conviction for embezzlement of property through abuse of office and entering false information into documents. The court sentenced the mayor to 5 years in prison, but he made a deal with the investigators and was released from punishment.
