Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) on Facebook on April 5 said the participation of a number of persons is being checked as part of the investigation into crimes committed during the presidency of disgraced ex-President Viktor Yanukovych involving dealings with Ukrainian businessman Serhiy Kurchenko and other senior officials. The PGO said prosecutors had been added to the team looking into the crimes and would ensure the arrests of suspects, even if they are not in Ukraine.
“Certain media continue manipulating facts about high-profile names mentioned in the ‘Kurchenko case,’ speculating about the composition of the group of prosecutors handling the case,” the statement reads.
The PGO said Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko had met with the investigators assigned the case and stressed the importance of intensifying their investigation, adding that in a separate proceeding involving Kurchenko, the pretrial investigation has been completed and case materials opened for familiarization.
As reported, on May 30, 2017 Odesa region’s Prosecutor’s Office sent Kurchenko, who had close ties with disgraced ex Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, a note of suspicion for creating a criminal organization and legalizing the profits made from the illegal activities.
The charges relate to the criminal embezzlement of property of state and private organizations (National Bank of Ukraine, Public Joint-Stock Company Ukrnafta, Public Joint-Stock Company JSC Ukrgazvydobuvannia, Public Joint-Stock Company Real Bank, Public Joint-Stock Company Brokbusinessbank and others) by means of illegal acts committed through abuse of authority and document forgery with money laundering.
Early July 2017, the Prosecutor General’s Office reported that the loss from activities of a criminal group created by Kurchenko exceeds Hr 14 billion.
