Tsukerman from ’Mindich tapes’ denies NABU corruption allegations: "It’s all lies". AUDIO

Ally of President Zelenskyy, Oleksandr Tsukerman ("Shugarman"), whom investigators consider involved in corruption schemes at Energoatom headed by Kvartal 95 co-owner Tymur Mindich, called NABU’s notice of suspicion "a lie."

Censor.NET reports this, citing the investigative project Schemes, which reached him by phone.

Tsukerman rejects allegations

At first, Tsukerman said he was not inclined to talk, but he briefly answered a question about the corruption suspicion: "None of it is true, it’s all lies."

Promises to return to Ukraine

Tsukerman did not confirm he is currently in Israel, saying it "doesn’t matter." At the same time, he suggested he could return to Ukraine.

"I will be happy to [return]. It is my homeland. [I will do it] when the time comes," he said.

More on Tsukerman in the "Mindich tapes"

According to Schemes’ law-enforcement sources, the 61-year-old Oleksandr Tsukerman officially left Ukraine a couple of weeks ago. As of the start of the full-scale invasion, he held an Israeli passport, which he had previously used to leave Ukraine.

On NABU’s recordings from Operation "Midas," Tsukerman’s code name was "Shugarman."

Holos MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak wrote that the Tsukerman brothers "handled the financial side for Tymur Mindich."

Corruption in the energy sector

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").