UIA exec served suspicion notice for tax evasion
29 July 06:59
Detectives of the Bureau of Economic Security (BES) have charged the former head of a Ukrainian airline with intentional tax evasion on a large scale. This is reported on the bureau’s website, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
The BES detectives did not disclose the suspect’s name or the name of the airline, saying only that it is “associated with one of the Ukrainian oligarchs.” According to the case file, it may be the Ukraine International Airlines (UIA), co-owned by Ihor Kolomoisky.
From 2004 to 2019, UIA was headed by Yuriy Miroshnikov, and in 2019-2022 – by Yevhen Dykhne. After that, the airline was briefly headed by Kyrylo Zvonarov and Anna Borsonnik. In 2022, UIA ceased operations, and its planes were transferred to Windrose, which also belongs to Kolomoisky’s group.
During the pre-trial investigation, it was found that this air carrier operated both international and domestic flights, having entered into several aircraft leasing agreements with a Cypriot company.
“Taking advantage of the Convention between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Cyprus for the Avoidance of Double Taxation, the former management of the Ukrainian company applied a preferential rate of 0% instead of 10% when paying income. However, the BES detectives found that the application of such a preferential rate did not comply with the terms of the concluded agreements and the actual circumstances of the operation of the aircraft,” the statement said.
The former president, acting in advance in coordination with the chief accountant and other persons who controlled the activities of Ukrainian and Cypriot companies, intentionally evaded payment of income tax on foreign legal entities with a source of origin in Ukraine in the amount of more than UAH 164.5 million.
The Bureau’s detectives served a notice of suspicion to the former head of the airline on criminal offenses stipulated by Part 3 of Art. 212 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (“An official of the enterprise, acting on the prior conspiracy of a group of persons, led to significant losses of budget funds”) and Part 2 of Art. 28, Part 1 of Art. 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (“An official intentionally issued false official documents in collusion with other persons”).
The pre-trial investigation is under way to establish the full list of involved persons. Operational support is provided by the SBU, and procedural guidance is provided by prosecutors of the Prosecutor General’s Office.
