Medvedchuk reported suspicion in the Samara-Western direction oil pipeline case
25 July 2024 01:24
The Security Service and the NABU have collected a large-scale evidence base that proves the illegality of the privatisation of the state-owned Samara-Western direction oil pipeline in 2015. Now the suspicion is reported to ex-MP Viktor Medvedchuk and four representatives of the former top management of Prykarpatzapadtrans, who took possession and managed the pipeline. About it reports "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to the press service of the SBU.
According to the case materials, the organiser of the scheme for illegal privatisation was former MP Viktor Medvedchuk, who is suspected by the SBU of high treason. He started its implementation in 2015 and acted in close coordination with the then top political leadership of Ukraine and Russia. Medvedchuk involved third parties in the scheme, who later received senior positions at the company that “privatised” the said oil pipeline.
“As evidenced by the materials of the proceedings, the Samara-Western direction oil product pipeline remained in the ownership of Russia after the collapse of the USSR. Since 2005, Ukraine has been proving its right to own it through the courts, and only in 2014-2015 this right was confirmed by the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Economic Court. However, with the support of the then top leadership of Ukraine, Medvedchuk managed to cancel this decision through the Rivne economic court and formalise the sale of the oil product pipeline to a Swiss company, which was actually controlled by the participants in the scheme,” the SBU said in a statement.
It is noted that after taking possession of the pipeline Medvedchuk and his accomplices ensured its functioning through the company Prykarpatzapadtrans, and the proceeds were transferred to the accounts of affiliated foreign companies and distributed among themselves.
It is noted that the relevant information is supported by the evidence at the disposal of NABU and SBU, as well as the testimony of Viktor Medvedchuk himself, which was voluntarily and knowingly provided by him to the exchange with rf.
Since May 2019, the pumping of diesel through the pipeline has been blocked to return it to state ownership, while law enforcement agencies investigated the legality of the privatisation. In January 2024, the Supreme Court of Ukraine finally recognised the Ukrainian part of the pipeline as state property
Now the pre-trial investigation is continuing. A set of measures is being carried out to bring the suspects, who are abroad, to responsibility, as well as to establish the circle of all those involved in this illegal transaction.
It should be noted that the arrested 92-metre yacht Royal Romance, which belonged to Medvedchuk, has acquired the status of a Ukrainian vessel, which means the nationality of the vessel, which is subject to the jurisdiction of Ukraine.
In April 2022, in the course of criminal proceedings, the GBI and SBU officers arrested 264 paintings by Viktor Medvedchuk. According to the court decision, they were transferred to ARMA management for realisation.
on 17 April, ARMA said that it planned to put the paintings from Medvedchuk’s collection up for sale. At the same time, at the initiative of the National Agency for the Preservation of Ukraine’s Cultural Heritage, experts were invited to inspect the paintings to carry out an art expert examination.
Medvedchuk’s collection includes works by 20th century Transcarpathian artists, in particular Joseph Bokshay, Gavriil Gluck and Adalbert Erdely, a landscape by painter Volodymyr Orlovsky, a painting by Ivan Aivazovsky, as well as icons made of amber and beads. The cost of some paintings reaches $50,000.
In June, ARMA announced that it was going to auction two BOMBARDIER quad bikes and a TRAXTER buggy.
Medvedchuk’s arrest
Medvedchuk himself was arrested on 12 April 2022 as a result of a special operation of the SBU. He is a defendant in several criminal cases on high treason and economic offences.
on 21 September, Viktor Medvedchuk was exchanged for Ukrainian servicemen held by Russia. As a result, 215 Ukrainian defenders were returned from captivity.
