Government dismisses Energoatom vice president: what is known
12 November 22:40
Energoatom Vice President Jakob Hartmut has been dismissed by the Ukrainian government. This was announced by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko on Telegram, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
“Based on the materials received from NABU, the Government has decided to urgently suspend Vice President, Board Member Jacob Hartmut,” she said.
The Cabinet of Ministers instructed the acting chairman of the company’s board to suspend Dmytro Basov, the chief consultant to the president of NNEGC Energoatom, who was notified of the suspicion.
The government demands that employees whose involvement in the crimes is still being verified be removed from their positions. These are:
- director of Finance and Budgeting;
- director of Legal Support;
- the head of the Centralized Procurement unit.
“If the NABU investigation reveals the involvement of other employees in committing a crime, the acting chairman of the board is obliged to suspend them and assist in the investigation of these persons,” Svyrydenko said.
What is known about corruption at Energoatom?
on November 10, the NABU announced the exposure of a corruption scheme at Energoatom, which included current and former energy officials. The criminals received undue benefits from the company’s contractors in the amount of 10-15% of the value of contracts, using the so-called “barrier” scheme to control payments and the status of suppliers.
The scheme involved a former deputy head of the State Property Fund, who became an advisor to the Minister of Energy, and a former law enforcement officer, who was the executive director of physical protection at Energoatom. Law enforcement officers found that the actual management of a strategic enterprise with an annual revenue of over UAH 200 billion was carried out by unauthorized persons without formal authority.
In addition, the NABU uncovered the “Legalization” scheme, in which a Kyiv office associated with the family of former Russian MP Andrii Derkach laundered money through a network of non-resident companies. About $100 million passed through this scheme, keeping “black books” and issuing cash outside of Ukraine.
According to MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak, the members of the criminal organization identified so far include:
- former advisor to the Minister of Energy Ihor Myroniuk;
- dmytro Basov, Executive Director for Physical Protection and Security of Energoatom JSC;
- businessman and head of the criminal organization Timur Mindich;
- four people – employees of the back office for money laundering.
At the same time, NABU reported only on searches at Energoatom, without mentioning Mindich or Halushchenko.
For his part, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the need for transparency at Energoatom and the inevitability of punishment for corruption schemes in the energy sector.
MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak submitted resolutions to the Verkhovna Rada to dismiss Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko and Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk.
