Mindichgate: Energoatom contractors will avoid punishment for "kickbacks" if they report it to NABU themselves, Kryvonos says
Contractors of Energoatom who paid "kickbacks" to figures in the Mindichgate case may avoid criminal liability if they report it to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) themselves.
This was stated by NABU Director Semen Kryvonos in an interview with Suspilne, Censor.NET reports.
What is known?
"But I want to stress that whoever informs us (about the bribe) in advance, before the moment we uncover it, this will help both the investigation and those who gave the bribes. Provided that the person reports that they gave bribes to an official of Energoatom or the ministry under duress. This will be regarded as cooperation with the investigation," the Bureau director said.
Asked whether this could exempt a person from criminal liability, Kryvonos said:
"Absolutely. Precisely in this case, if this is done before we establish it and serve a notice of suspicion for giving a bribe to an official."
Mindichgate
- Earlier, Censor.NET reported that NABU was conducting searches at Mindich's residence, who left Ukraine a few hours before the searches.
- As reported, on Tuesday, 4 November, searches were conducted in one of the branches of the separate divisions of NNEGC "Energoatom" in connection with a corruption case.
- The NABU is also conducting searches at the home of former Energy Minister Halushchenko and at "Energoatom".
- The NABU and the SAPO announced a large-scale operation to expose corruption in the energy sector.
- Current Minister of Energy Svitlana Hrynchuk appears on recordings obtained by NABU as part of its investigation into corruption in the energy sector.
- Later, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau uncovered an office in central Kyiv belonging to the family of former MP and current Russian senator Andrii Derkach, where a "black ledger" was kept, cash was tracked, and money-laundering operations were organized.
- On 11 November, NABU released recordings featuring Minister Halushchenko and Mindich.
- Chernyshova has been served with a notice of suspicion of illicit enrichment under Operation "Midas."
- One of the suspects, Dmytro Basov, was remanded in custody with bail set at UAH 40 million.
- Halushchenko's former adviser Myroniuk was remanded in custody with bail set at UAH 126 million.
- The Cabinet of Ministers has submitted proposals to the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) to impose personal sanctions against Tymur Mindich and Oleksandr Tsukerman following an NABU investigation into corruption in the energy sector.
- Earlier, Ihor Myroniuk and Energoatom’s executive director for security, Dmytro Basov, featured on the NABU tapes under the alias "Tenor", were remanded in custody for 60 days.
- Another suspect, Lesia Ustymenko, was also placed in pre-trial detention for 60 days.
- The High Anti-Corruption Court has ruled on a preventive measure for Ihor Fursenko, a suspect in an energy-sector corruption case (known on the NABU tapes as "Roshyk").
- On 13 November, the High Anti-Corruption Court arrested Liudmyla Zorina, with bail set at 12 million hryvnia.
- Zelenskyy imposed sanctions against Mindich and Tsukerman.
