On the details of the seizure of the largest cash bribe in the history of Europe - $5 million to NABU and SAP to close the Zlochevsky case
Eevgenii Shevchenko, the denouncer who denounced the criminals, first reported "Censor.NET" the details of the special operation, the dramatic detention of those who bribed, the routine life of the "agent" and the specifics of the work to expose corrupt officials.
Recall that on June 12, the first deputy head of the State Tax Service of Kyiv Nikolai Iliashenko and his accomplices slipped $5 million to NABU and SAP to close the case against the Yanukovych-era ex-minister Nikolai Zlochevsky (acc. part 5 of Art. 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - appropriation, embezzlement of property, and 3 Art. 209 of the Criminal Code - laundering of funds obtained by criminal means). Both cases concerned Burisma. Also the group of people who gave a bribe included one of the leaders of a group of companies affiliated with Zlochevsky – Andrei Kicha, and Zlochevsky's confidant, the former head of one of the departments of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine, Elena Mazurova. The bribe-takers intended to share another $1 million, which was also seized during the special operation.
Previously, Shevchenko was known as a NABU freelance agent. He was directly involved in high-profile cases, in particular, on Dubnevich and Alperin. After the latter's case, his identity was declared as a NABU agent. In this regard, the first question that arose after the news about the unprecedented bribe that Zlochevsky's people decided to transfer through him was WHY THE CRIMINALS BELIEVED HIM AGAIN? Shevchenko's answer is traditional: corrupt officials do not understand that there are a sufficient number of people in the country who sincerely want to combat corruption.
NEITHER KICHA, NOR MOST LIKELY ZLOCHEVSKY KNEW WHO I AM
- Social media are exploding. No one can understand how they gave you, who had openly told about cooperation with NABU, $5 million to transfer a bribe? Our last interview said everything about you! Did the criminals read it?
- Iliashenko and Mazurova knew exactly who I was. Kicha did not know, which was a surprise for me. On the day when we had already agreed on everything and I was preparing to go downstairs to transfer money, we said goodbye in the corridor. Kicha shook my hand as a thank-you. And I told him: "We are all serious people, but just to make sure I want to say you to keep secret information about our deal. Moreover, I am a public person in a sense, do you know?" He says, "No." To put it mildly, that blew my mind! That is, neither Kicha, nor most likely Zlochevsky knew whom they were transferring $6 million dollars through! In Kholodnitsky's office, there is a book on the table for visitors, "How to survive being surrounded by idiots" - its copy should be given to Zlochevsky.
While Mazurova and Iliashenko knew about me. The reason for contacting me lies in the psychology of corrupt officials who have lived all their lives on bribes, and in the friendly relations that I have built. Plus, you know, the FBI agents have this saying: "Criminals always need luck; we need it just once". It means, sooner or later they make a fatal mistake.
- But the front-line player for Zlochevsky was Iliashenko rather than you, wasn’t he?
- Yes, he was the guarantor of the deal and decency.
- The guarantor of decency for a bribe - that’s sounding grandiose. Why did Iliashenko believe you? How did you get acquainted?
- It was the end of 2016, when the NACP was established and it declared 11 apartments, a house and other property. This fact outraged me and the guys, in particular Egor Sobolev, Semen Semenchenko and veterans of the "Donbass" battalion, because he has worked in the tax office all his life. We decided to check the official for his integrity. I went to the State Fiscal Service, met Iliashenko when he was leaving the building, introduced myself and explained to him our intent to get acquainted with the origin of the property - on a voluntary basis. He treated our request with understanding and promised to send all the documents in a week.
It’s been two weeks he stayed silent. We gathered - about 30 people from our veteran corps. We went to his work in the morning. Blocked his car at the entrance. I told him: "We have agreed everything with you". He started to get nervous - probably frightened. I asked him to calm down and assured that no one would do him any harm. Iliashenko agreed to speak face-to-face in his office. He asked me to leave my phone in the waiting room, and in his office he made me lift my jacket to make sure I was not being tapped. He checked my pockets, pants. Then he said to go to the corner with the icon: "Cross yourself, pray that this is not a stich-up". I crossed myself, although I’m atheist. He was firmly convinced that we were doing it for money - doing someone's bidder. I tried to convince him, but I think he never believed. Finally, I just asked for information on the origin of the capital, as he promised.
A week later, Iliashenko prepared tax reports for all the years of work, and those documents proved his innocence. That is, he declared exactly as much as he could officially show. The main property owner was his wife.
- Have you met again after checking his tax returns?
- Strange, but we began to go on because in fact we have much in common with each other. Neither of us drink alcohol. We love our wives very much. We both love Crimea - he is from the Crimea, and every summer I miss it incredibly. He is more fortunate in this regard: every summer he travels there with his family.
Our favorite car brand is Mercedes-Benz. By the way, two months ago he bought a new GLS-400 SUV, which price starts at $125,000.
- Did he tell you about this?
- Yes.
- Well, it means he trusted you. Telling the NABU agent about the new Mercedes.
- Actually, I am not and have never been a NABU agent: to be precise in definitions and terminology, according to current legislation, I am the "Denouncer" ("Vykryvach" in Ukrainian), that is, the person who files statements about corruption-related crimes and collaborates with the Bureau on a confidential basis.
As for the way we communicated with Iliashenko over these 3-4 years, it was an absolutely fair game. I mean I had never offered him to "handle some business". When that sensational Bigus story went on the air, pedaling the version about my participation in the corruption machinations of "Ukroboronprom"... This version of the journalists is a complete mess and a big personal mistake of Bigus, but that is for another debate. So, Iliashenko told me then: "Well, admit it already, you had stood with the Svinarchuks". I honestly told him then that I had never seen the Svinarchuks in my life, but he didn’t believe it. He just laughed and said: "Well, don’t say if you don’t want to".
- So, that Bigus’s piece strengthened his belief that you were involved in the schemes. The conflict with Kholodnitskii also played into the hands.
- Yes, he was sure that me and Kholodnitskii failed to share the money from some "sort-out". People often believe what they want to. He wanted to believe that I am as corrupt as he is, and if it becomes necessary to solve something in NABU, I will help him in this.
- If you communicated openly, did Iliashenko tell you how he managed to survive in the tax office? He was appointed to the Kyiv-Sviatoshinska tax office under Yanukovych. Under Nasirov, he became the first deputy head of the State Tax Service of Kyiv, in charge of VAT. He stayed with Prodan, with Verlanov. And recently he was reappointed again without competition, although all the other heads of the Kyiv tax office were fired. What is the secret of this survival?
- I think there are two factors. The first is that he is tied with serious financial flows, in particular, those of large taxpayers. The second point is his personal good connections with big shots in Ukraine. I cannot say exactly who they are. Despite a certain degree of trust, he was always cautious until the last days and did not go deep during our communication into his schemes.
I CALLED THE DETECTIVE MANAGER AND SAID "ARE YOU SITTING? IF NO, SIT"
- How did the story with Zlochevsky first come to the fore?
- On June 1, Iliashenko called me and asked to come by for a serious conversation. I was really busy then: I had a deal that day, and asked him to decide everything over the phone. He sent me a copy of the detective's petition with a request to close the case. I read and saw the name of Zlochevsky. He asked: "What can you say? Is it possible to address this issue? People are offering $1 million to change jurisdiction and transfer it to the National Police, where he and Avakov have already "got everything done". Or $2 million if NABU and SAP close the case themselves".
I called the NABU detective manager Andrei Kaluzhinskii and said "are you sitting? if no, sit". I told him everything and sent the file.
- It's hard to believe they wanted to iron everything out just like that, over the phone. Have you previously discussed such cases with Iliashenko?
- Yes, we have. This February, he sent me a similar file concerning the Dnipropetrovsk hydroelectric station, and asked if I could "handle" with it. He said that "People are offering tickets for the 20th". That meant $20 thousand. And he told me a day later that it was probably not serious and there was no point in doing it - and I didn’t persuade him. Probably, he thought that if we wanted to kill him, then I would agree to this $20 thousand and we would have done it back then. Incidentally, I showed that proposal to Kaluzhinskii, but since Iliashenko changed the subject by himself, further conversation made no sense.
- The Zlochevsky case is one of the key, systemic ones in Ukraine. Whoever tried to close it, he would definitely get under sustained attack of criticism and blame. How did they explain to themselves that this is possible?
- When we had already counted the money on the day of the bribe transfer, Iliashenko asked me: "I still have a question about Nasirov - can we close his case?" That is, I have not even taken my suitcases packed with cash yet, and already got a new "offer". Mazurova also said: "We all understand that Kholodnitsky has 2-3 months left, and he is preparing his safety bag". That is, they themselves came up with arguments, and convinced me everything would go like clockwork.
Then Mazurova said that she also had another urgent matter and immediately sent me the details of another criminal episode, also tied with "Burisma", but with other names of the defendants. It seems to me that at that moment they were already a little out of it: they say, since they have managed to close the Zlochevsky case, then everything else will be easy peasy.
There is another point: the people leading or playing up the campaign to discredit NABU also made as though they take bribes. In the past six months, Bakhmatiuk has gone on a spree – he actually withdrew about 1.2 billion hrivnia from the budget, but his trucks drive with the words "Sytnik should be in prison", and the information campaign in the media and social networks is supported by many corrupt journalists, bloggers and lawyers. Although I almost caught him on bribing. In 2016, he wanted to close his two criminal cases in NABU, mediated by Ivan Miroshnichenko, at that time the people's deputy of the Samopomich party. They first met with Miroshnichenko, and he indicated his interest in closing cases. The next meeting should be directly with Bakhmatiuk, under audio and video recording within the framework of the covert investigative activities. But one person, our mutual friend, who knew that my "help" will put both Bakhmatiuk and Miroshnichenko behind bars for most likely ten years with confiscation, strongly advised them avoid speaking with me about such subjects. Thus, these two comrades managed to walk free. At least then.
Continuing on NABU discrediting, I should say that Artem Sytnik, on Avakov's personal order and for bare 25,000 hryvnia, made the register of corrupt officials for a less than one thousand dollar stay in a hotel - such a ridiculous "corruption". Plus, on the eve of bribing, Venediktova went on a tirade against Kholodnitskii that he allegedly sells cases. In general, some people were absolutely sure they could iron out their affairs, if others can.
- Are Iliashenko's words about Nasirov recorded in the case?
- Surely.
- That is, by no means all of those who needed it read our first interview. And they were not embarrassed that you had a conflict with Kholodnitskii and accused him of giving away cases you took part in?
- We discussed it. Once we started speaking about Kholodnitskii and our conflict. I said: "Kholodnitsky has a temper, we had some conflicting issues. While Sytnik is another matter. We are on the same page with him". But! I spoke about it from my stand, but they understood it differently. They understood the conflict with Kholodnitskii as we did not share the money, but that was their problem. I never said that we shared bribes with him. I finally told them: "In this matter, the amount is so large that we have no disagreements" - and that was the truth. But again - they figured it out in their own. And I have always diligently avoided any provocative actions, which always have implications both for me and for the Bureau.
- First they offered $2 million. How did they raise the stakes up to 6?
- After the $2 million offer, detectives studied the situation. They tried to trace whether it was a setup from the GPU and the SSU. They controlled whether Iliashenko visited Venediktova. Plus I had some doubts. And they thought we were taking time to bargain. As a result, two days later Iliashenko said: "If there are no tickets on the 1st and 2nd, then let's choose on 5th, but quickly. It’s very urgent for us!" - just like that, the million-dollar issues are solved over the phone.
- How should the bribe be distributed?
- Well, the bribe for NABU and SAP was $5 million. One million dollars was for Iliashenko and Mazurova for their assistance, but I found out about this at the last moment, when I saw six million in the suitcases instead of the agreed five.
- When and how did you agree upon the deal?
- Our first meeting was on June 5.
- So, he was a direct offeror.
- Sure. It was fair play both for a denouncer and for a corrupt official. I never provoked him or offered him or anyone else to "resolve" something in NABU.
- During this meeting, he called the monk and asked God's advice whether he can trust you and whether you succeed in giving a bribe?
- Yes, he did. When we agreed on the details, he called someone on speakerphone. He said: "Saint Peter, now I have a meeting with a man, and we have a big deal planned. What do the Powers say? Will be it successful?" The monk muttered something for ten seconds, then answered that "the Powers approve of this deal, I see a lot of money and success". I thought then: damn it, if this stubborn monk now says not to close the deal, I will find him later and bury. It looked like some kind of surreal - a person deliberately turns to a very serious crime, with a 10-year imprisonment, and instead of using his head, he calls some church charlatan.
- How was your second meeting? On the eve of the bribe transfer.
- The second meeting was on June 10, two days before the operation.
It was really important to find out who the intermediary between Zlochevsky and Iliashenko is. There were certain suspicions about Mazurova - we managed to "make" her. But the fact she is definitely the mediator, and that Andrei Kicha is also involved in making decisions, leaked out only on the day of the operation. Earlier, detectives were not gunning much for them, so as not to accidentally turn up - they wanted to avoid risks and too much attention.
NABU PROVIDED ME WITH A SPECIAL CASH COUNTING MACHINE. ADRENALIZED, ILYASHENKO PERSONALLY COUNTED MONEY.
- Did you have fear of that it’s a swindle and you is simply giving away NABU? What if at that moment, before the transfer of money, special forces from the State Security Service or the SSU burst in there and held everyone down, and you would be accused of intending to close the Zlochevsky case, and being a provocateur. Have you considered this risk in advance?
- Of course, we have. I risked a lot. I was not afraid of the legal consequences, since we acted based on the decision of the investigating judge and under the procedural control of the prosecutors. But if I failed, then NABU's reputation would have to be buried - that's for sure. Nobody would have believed me.
- They say on the eve of the decisive meeting you felt bad from strong anxiety.
- In general, the very operation didn’t trill me much. But I felt badly at the moment of leaving for money - I had dizziness. However, it was rather a consequence of a military trauma - this happens to me from time to time and, unfortunately, none of doctors has yet been able to figure out the reason, although I underwent dozens of examinations in three different clinics. Despite the dizziness, I was absolutely calm: my hands and fingers did not shiver, my voice was steady. I saw that everything was going right, and I was confident in my own strength. But maybe my body could not cope with the psycho-emotional stress. And really I felt light-headed in the detectives’ office. They brought me to the doctors who measured my pressure, checked the blood oxygen and said that everything was normal. I drank water, sat for a while and got better. Maybe it was banal dehydration because of a strong heat wave on that day.
I really felt bad at night when they were counting money in the presence of attesting witnesses. Stress started to come out - It made me physically sick. I went outside, it was dawn. At first I wanted to call an ambulance, but then I realized I just need to go home and sleep well for the first time in a week. I called a taxi, vomited on the way, but finally got home, took a shower and went to bed.
- Why did the money transfer took place in the tax office underground parking?
- They were the initiators of the deal, so it was their prerogative of choosing a place for transferring money. Until the last moment, neither I nor the detectives knew where the suspects and I would count the money. When me and Kicha had already agreed on the text of the decree on the closure of the criminal case, I went down and sit into the car with Iliashenko - we went around the block, went back and drove into the lower parking lot of the tax office - that's how we found the place.
Actually, Iliashenko was in a hurry to leave for Odessa to meet his wife, so he tried to do everything as quickly as possible - perhaps that is why he chose his workplace.
- So romantic: "Honey, I quickly bribed the NABU and SAP management right in my office, just to meet you in time!"
- Of course, it's not all as easy as it sounds. But I cannot go into details and disclose the secret of the pre-trial investigation. Also, the disclosure of forms and methods of operational activities is prohibited. Therefore, I can only open the veil of secrecy of this very complicated and difficult process only after a court decision condemning Zlochevsky and his accomplices, and Burisma being confiscated and transferred to the state control. At least this is the current goal.
- Well, can you tell how you counted the money?
- Yes, we slipped the money in the State Tax Service underground parking, Sholudenko street. The Burisma minibus drove into the lower parking lot. Two more Burisma security vehicles with 5 or 6 people stood outside the entrance. They certainly had guns, and, I think, other weapons also in the cars.
I opened my suitcases one by one and counted 100 thousand dollar packs. Then we randomly checked them with a counting machine, which I got from NABU for this purpose. When we were counting the money, Iliashenko kicked out all the guards - we were alone in the parking lot near the socket to plug the machine in.
- That’s very thoughtful to park in the tax office near the socket for the money counting machine. How things work out.
- Yes. Unfortunately, none of our people thought how many machines we would need to quickly calculate these millions with the witnesses. We had just one machine and it stopped from time to time. Also, there were no packages for such amount of money, and one of the guys went to Epicenter for them, but this was later. And then, adrenalized, Iliashenko started to take bundles of money and count them on the machine. We randomly took 20-30 thousand dollars from each million and counted them - I had to make sure this was real money. Taking the third suitcase, I realized it was $6 million instead of five! Iliashenko promptly explained that he would take one million to share with Mazurova.
While leaving, the minibus with $6 million had three people left: the driver Iliashenko, Zlochevsky's guard and supposedly my guard, who was actually a detective.
After that, we went up to Iliashenko's office again and I, in the presence of Mazurova and Kicha, called Kaluzhinskii and said that the money is real and the sum is correct, so you can amend the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations. After that, Kholodnitsky submitted a resolution to the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations. Accordingly, their accomplices from the Office of the Prosecutor General checked this and gave them confirmation that the case was indeed closed. After that, Iliashenko and I went downstairs to pick up the suitcases with money.
DETENTION: ILIASHENKO AND THE DETECTIVE STANDED FOR A MINUTE WITH THE GUNS POINTED AT EACH OTHER.
- And then the detention began...
- According to legend, I had 4 guards. In fact, one of them was a detective, and the other three were the guys from the NABU special forces. Three commandos waited in the street with my legendary Volvo with the Donbass battalion logo, which I had driven the whole period of war. And I drove into the lower parking lot with my Mercedes. When we went down the second time, just in case, I once again opened the suitcases with money one by one to make sure everything was in place, and then put them into the trunk - two of 20 kilograms, and one of 10 kilograms. $1 million in cash weighs 10 kg.
So I went. My task was to stop right behind the boom gate and block the exit from the parking lot. I did it, and at that moment I felt incredibly anxious, although before that I was absolutely calm. The fact is that there were only 4 of ours - one stayed downstairs in the parking lot and three upstairs. And there are 5-6 of them, plus the driver and Iliashenko himself with an award gun - that is, they do have the numbers. I only had the Z-15 rifle at hand, but I didn't know if I could use it and what to do if they start firing?
Their guards outside got out of the cars - when I stopped, they realized that something was wrong. The exit from the parking lot was also blocked by my "guards" in Volvo - in case a minibus with Zlochevsky's guards rammed me from behind. Obviously, I was worried about both of my cars. Well, if they started shooting... The final in our plan, when we already had the money, was worked out, but we thought over everything except one: can I legally fire back in this situation, because in fact I am a civilian?
And I stopped the car facing in outwards, able to see the whole street. And I look to the right, and there is no one there - no movement at all. I looked to the left - the same thing - empty.
- Did you wait for backup to arrive?
- I imagined that at that moment the NABU buses, cars with flashing lights, and "Spartans" with armored personnel carriers were already rushing along. But they all were far staying below the radar, and of course I was informed that after the final signal they might need one or two minutes. But at that moment I was already on the verge, because I had $5 million in my trunk, and an assault rifle I don't know if I could shoot with, that is, I did not panic, but the adrenaline was off scale. And again I look to the left - no one. I look to the right - and there is no one there. And I saw Zlochevsky's bus behind and how he is already calling someone, probably Kicha, and reporting that we have blocked the exit.
A guy from the NABU Special Operations Directorate, allegedly one of my guards, who was near my car, said: "Zheka, sit still, all is mighty fine! We wait another 30-40 seconds". At that moment my heart was already jumping out. I was afraid that they would start shooting and everything would turn into a bloody mess. And so it could be, because, as I found out later, Iliashenko drew his gun, award gun by the way, and pointed it at the detective who remained in the parking lot.
- How did it happen that you left the detective alone with Iliashenko?
- In theory, we had to get into the car and go upstairs together. But the detective decided off the cuff to stay there alone, so as to keep an eye on Iliashenko and the million dollars in his car. And then Iliashenko realized that everything was went out of plan, turned to the detective and tipped his gun to him. The detective also drew his gun, and his ID with the other hand. At that moment, Iliashenko guard attacked him from behind. The detective threw him down and shouted: "Drop your gun! I am a NABU detective! You are under arrest!" And so the detective and Iliashenko were standing opposite each other with guns probably for a minute, while the special forces run at full speed. Iliashenko seemed to loose his temper from such a turn of events, but thank God, he did not shoot.
This minute lasted an eternity for me. But then the first car with special forces came over, and... its side door got jammed! So, I realize these are our guys, but for some reason no one comes out! And then the next bus with special forces arrived, and the fighter from this second bus pulled the handle from the outside and opened this jammed door - this is how sometimes the equipment messes up. Yes, in reality things do not go as smoothly as in the movies - something always breaks down when you least expect it.
When the special forces arrived, the Burisma guards, who had been standing outside, immediately jumped into the cars and drove away. The guard who blocked my car from behind started calling and I realized that he wanted to speak with Kicha. While Mazurova and Kicha were waiting for me in the office next to Iliashenko's office, because after the transfer of money they demanded to bring them the original extract from the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations. In general, it turned out to be a jackpot for us, because it would be more difficult to catch them later in Kyiv. When Iliashenko and I were already going downstairs to transfer money, leaving them waiting, I imperceptibly took a photo of the office door where Mazurova and Kicha were staying, in order to point their location for the special forces. And I immediately sent the photo to Kaluzhinskii, with the floor number, wing and where to go from the stairs.
While the special forces sliced through the security of the tax office, you know, there is a closed gate at the entrance, Zlochevsky's guard had time to warn Kicha and they left the indicated office. NABU blocked the building from the outside and began to comb the floor. Mazurova and Kicha locked themselves in toilets - she was in the women's, he was in the men’s rooms. But after being warned about smashing down the doors, they came out.
- What did Iliashenko say after the arrest? Did you speak with him?
- It took about 30 minutes to document his arrest in the lower parking lot. I stood upstairs - tired but happy. And I see them arming Iliashenko past my car. I didn’t want to see him, to be honest, I had different feelings, but that’s how it turned out. Coming up with me, he said reproachful: "Thank you, Evgenii". I answer: "What did you think, Viktorovich?" He tried to turn around and say something else, but they immediately put him in a car and drove away.
- How many people took part in the detention? After all, anyone could have leaked, disclosed information, but all worked imperceptibly.
- In this regard, I would like to note the high professionalism of both detectives, and gray men, special technicians, wiretaps, special forces, prosecutors of the SAP - all those involved. Not the slightest leak happened, and that's what I was most worried about. Well, the head of detectives Andrei Kaluzhinskii, of course, was at his best as usually - the prompt management of the operation went off without a hitch.
AS A DENOUNCER I CAN GET 525 THOUSAND DOLLARS
- How is the fake SAP resolution entered into the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations?
- A procedural decision of the Deputy Prosecutor General on the creation of imitation means for recording a crime is prepared. This included a copy of the resolution to close the case and the very entry into the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations.
- And you clearly recorded the access key used to verify this entry?
- The detectives initially understood that there would be unauthorized access to this resolution in the URPTI, since Iliashenko and his accomplices needed to make sure that it was made. I can imagine what was the joyful surprise of Kholodnitsky when he saw that the head of the department of the Office of the Prosecutor General Irina Bakai checks on the decision on the closure of the case.
– Is she under the investigation too?
- Sure. I don't know exactly the article she is charged with. But there is clear criminal responsibility, and she should demonstratively go to jail. Such scoundrels who work in law enforcement agencies and must defend the interests of society, but in fact help those who rob our country... corrupt bastards should be in prison, with no options.
- Has Bakai been fired? Has she been suspected? Was her entry into the URPTI authorized? What other cases did she show a personal interest in? Is this checked?
- Unfortunately, the Prosecutor General Venediktova behaved in an extremely outrageous manner and refused to fire Bakai, although all the evident facts of her complicity in the crime. After all, unauthorized access to the URPTI in the interests of the Zlochevsky case was from her key. And only when the Attorney General found out that NABU detectives had other, much more weighty evidence of her subordinate's guilt, she asked Bakai to write a letter of resignation. To date, an ex-employee of the Office of the Attorney General is really suspected of committing a number of other crimes, but I have no right to comment on this issue. That is, for me it is absolutely obvious that Prosecutor General Irina Venediktova, commissioned by the President of Ukraine, covers up the crimes committed by her subordinates.
And if we remember the shameful situation with the corrupt judges of the District Administrative Court, according to which the Prosecutor General refuses to sign a submission for their removal for two weeks, then Vladimir Zelensky should immediately replace Venediktova with an honest, brave and principled person who will begin to tear all this herd to pieces. Regarding these judges, I will add that the day before the detectives were supposed to come to the Kyiv County Administrative Court with searches, on the personal instructions of Venediktova, procedural leaders were gathered, who forbidden to carry out any procedural actions. Actually, that’s not OK. Only the next morning, detectives managed to reverse the situation and start searches with other SAP prosecutors. Although by that time all the judges were already aware of the visit of detectives, and the head of the court Vovk went on vacation the day before and flew away - now he is hiding abroad. I consider this situation a shame for the Prosecutor General and a shame for the President of Ukraine, who bears personal political responsibility for the ongoing chaos.
- You had conflicts with Kholodnitskii. You accused the anti-corruption prosecutor of leaking cases, but then it turned out that he risked the most, because Venediktova attacked him personally, and it was easiest to set him up. Have you made up with him?
- I had and still have reasonable suspicions. But, as they say, let all things past pass. At this stage, all the old conflicts were forgotten. True, neither Sytnik nor Kholodnitskii met with me until the day of the operation. We met only the next day, after the press conference.
- Why was Iliashenko so confident in his impunity?
- Simply because none of the odious bastards has been put in jail for corruption yet. And in general, look, whether something has drastically changed in the country? Have we rooted out corruption? No, no, and again no: judges, prosecutors, policemen are the most corrupt professions in our country, which still ranks first in terms of corruption in Europe. And NABU with detectives in this system is a foreign body that does not fit not only into the psychology and understanding of corrupt officials, but also into the mentality of our ordinary citizens, who have for decades lived with the understanding that everywhere you must "give" a bribe: in the clinic, in kindergarten, utility office, driver and vehicle licensing office, institute...
Also, there is still not a single verdict on all NABU operations I personally took part in. Starting with Prosecutor Matiushko as my first experience of "denouncer". He was arrested four years ago, in February 2016, for $10,000 - nothing compared to $6 million. Nevertheless, the crime was also very serious.
– How’s the Matiushko case going?
- It is already in the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court. All the witnesses and participants were interrogated again, because in the Goloseevsky court, where the case had previously been, Matiushko sorted everything out. As far as I understand, the court is about to make a decision.
On the other hand, the lack of such solutions also allowed the criminals to be sure that I was not helping NABU, but, on the contrary, was a power broker. This is their flawed psychology. Even on Facebook, various people wrote in the comments: "It is clear why they asked Shevchenko, because earlier he had already "closed" cases for NABU. I answered: I did, I do and I will! Be my guests! (laughs).
ALL THE CASH WAS FROM CONVERSION CENTERS
- Is $6 million the largest bribe in the history of Ukraine?
- I was even told that this is the largest one-time seized bribe in cash in the history of Europe. Maybe it is.
- Where is the $6 million now?
- They are arrested and will go into the budget by a court decision.
- Where did they find such a huge amount of money in cash? This is more than any bank can collect in a day.
- I thought they would bring money in bank packages, and I took from my kitchen an important tool - kitchen scissors. They are large and sturdy enough to cut plastic bank package. But it turned out that the cash was from conversion centers - all with rubber bands.
- Is it realistic to figure out which converting center can give such a cosmic amount of cash? Would you take even more from there?
- I think it's hard. The detectives did not commit risky actions so as not to accidentally pop up and disrupt the operation.
- Is it possible to conclude that the tax officer Iliashenko was involved in the protection of the cash out?
- I cannot say for sure, but it is quite possible.
- How is the investigation of the Zlochevsky bribe case going on now? At what stage is it? Has the suspicion been caused to him?
- The investigation is progressing successfully - over the next 2-3 months, detectives plan to take the case to court. Zlochevsky has been notified on the suspicion at the place of registration - his mother signed the receipt.
Two suspects were released on bail: Kicha contributed 40 million hryvnia, Mazurova - 120 million hryvnia. Only one suspect - Ilyashenko - remained in the pre-trial detention center, who has not yet been able to collect 80 million hryvnia.
- What property was arrested within the framework of the case? Is it true that Iliashenko has a five-story apartment?
- The arrested property impresses: about twenty apartments, cars, houses. Yes, Iliashenko really has a five-story apartment - two duplex apartments connected to each other, and a completed attic floor - like the odious prosecutor Kulik. It is also known that Iliashenko has real estate in Crimea, but, for obvious reasons, it has not yet been possible to arrest it.
BIGUS DIDN'T GET A CLUE OF COVERAGE. I HAVE TO ACT LIKE A CRIMINAL TO MAKE THEM BELIEVE ME
- So many people suspected you of corruption after the situation with Svinarchuk. What would you like to say about this now?
- That Bigus story was a big blow for me. I put just as much of myself into fight against corruption, but was accused of helping criminals. Moreover, about a month before that, Zelensky and I became friends on Facebook and I know that I was considered a candidate from the Servant of the People in the elections. I understood that I would be of use to the country by having parliamentary powers. It is clear that after that story, my candidacy was no longer considered and I was very upset.
Bigus made one but a very significant mistake - he did not get a clue of the actions of the "Denouncer", and they built their entire plot on a fundamentally incorrect hypothesis. But it happens. All people make mistakes.
- The key problem is that NABU did not confirm that you were carrying out a special assignment, so Bigus and all the others had every legal reason to suspect you. This kind of operation must be confirmed by documents, not words - this is what the law requires.
- That’s true, and they were right here, because I was not a NABU employee and I have never carried out any special assignments. I do business in my life, but I differ from other businessmen in that when I see corruption of officials, I do not enter these schemes to make money, but immediately write a statement to the Bureau and start cooperating with detectives. For a number of reasons, I still cannot disclose all the details of the Gladkovskii case, but over time, of course, I will.
- What did the NABU tell you after the successful operation? Will they put you forward for the award?
- Yesterday I accidentally met the head of the NABU surveillance at a car wash station. He said that in his life he performed many operations, but this was one of the best and that I saw it through. For me, such words are the best reward.
- As a denouncer, you should receive 10% of the bribe, shouldn’t you?
- In theory, yes. The law has already entered into force. But when will it be? In a year or two? In addition, I have a question for the Servant of the People officials who, for an absolutely incomprehensible reason for me, have limited the maximum remuneration, so I should receive much less than the real 10% - about $525 thousand.
- Have you already thought what you want to spend your money for?
It would be foolish to spend this amount on all sorts of wishes and dreams and expensive toys. For example, I like the Ferrari Portofino, but a much more reasonable decision would be to invest this capital in a good business and create a source of income so that to make a profit. And already with a profit, you can afford those things that make our life better and more diverse. This is what I think to be proper money handling. But I don't really need so much in life, as Skriabin used to say: "Woke up in the morning thankful for the sunlight".
- In your first interview you said that since you were discovered, you can no longer work for NABU. In fact, after that, have you taken part in some operations besides this one?
- I have always been a friend of NABU, which in essence should be every citizen of Ukraine who wants to live in a civilized legal state. But I hope this will be my last experience as a denouncer, because it is actually very difficult.
- Aha, now I'll write that Shevchenko took a back seat, no longer works with NABU, but who will believe you? You will receive the award, Zelensky will give you a position in the Office...
- Yes, I would like to show myself in the executive branch with real powers - in this situation, the corrupt officials will hang themselves on poles. But whether the president will offer me such a position... I'm not sure.
Cooperating with NABU on such issues is really far from easy. In Hollywood films, "agents" often look fit and cheerful. But in reality, during the operation, especially at the final stage, you feel exhausted. I think that in this regard, The Infiltrator is the most realistic - both in relation to the work of undercover agents, and to the one who you, by the will of fate, send to prison, because during the communication you get to know these people well. I always feel sorry for them humanwise, because I am actually a kind person.
Or, if anyone is interested in this topic, I also recommend reading Agent Storm. My Life inside al-Qaeda and CIA, Priceless, Strangers on a Bridge, and Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel's Targeted Assassinations - quit faithfully reflect daily life and the difficult work of agents. These books detail not only dizzying successes, but also those mistakes that led to unwanted consequences, the failure of operations, arrests or even death of agents.
After the meeting on June 10, when me and Iliashenko had already discussed all the details, I first ever in my life took sleeping pills, because I could not sleep at all, and I hardly needed to rest. I drank only half a dose, but I could not wake up until lunch the next day. And the next night I could not sleep again... In general, today I find myself thinking that this was my last business with NABU. Well, I shouldn't make any promises, but maybe they will call me less.
Iurii Butusov, Olga Skorokhod, Censor.NET
