Ukraine billionaire Ihor Kolomoisky targeted in new anti-corruption swoop

[Social Media]

BBC News

 

Ukraine has launched a fresh wave of anti-corruption raids on high-profile figures, including one of the country's richest men, Ihor Kolomoisky.

The home of former interior minister Arsen Avakov was also searched, as part of the apparent purge.

Ukraine has launched an anti-corruption drive and officials said the leaders of the customs service had been fired.

President Volodymr Zelensky said raids were necessary to ensure "people do not abuse power".

Speaking on Wednesday President Zelensky said: "Unfortunately, in some spheres, the only way to guarantee legitimacy is to change leaders along with institutional changes implementation."

Ukraine has come under increasing pressure from its Western partners, notably the EU, to tackle corruption.

[Saanim]

Hasn't this Ihor Kolomoisky been the one who made Zelensky?

 

And hasn't it been a surprise for the Western partners, notably the EU, that Ukraine has been for decades on the top of corrupt countries? 

(Not exactly on the top, sometimes their neighbour Moldavia was a bit "better"...)

[placeholder]

4 minutes ago, Saanim said:

Hasn't this Ihor Kolomoisky been the one who made Zelensky?

 

And hasn't it been a surprise for the Western partners, notably the EU, that Ukraine has been for decades on the top of corrupt countries? 

(Not exactly on the top, sometimes their neighbour Moldavia was a bit "better"...)

Beaten only by Russia, actually.

But at least in Ukraine, and unlike in Russia, when journalists expose govt. corruption they don't wind up beaten or dead.

[Saanim]

7 minutes ago, placeholder said:

Beaten only by Russia, actually.

But at least in Ukraine, and unlike in Russia, when journalists expose govt. corruption they don't wind up beaten or dead.

You surely can provide many links about that. The problem is that from Ukraine you will not be able to get any unpleasant news since the opposition there is no longer existing.  

But perhaps one name can remind you: Viktor Medvedchuk

[placeholder]

1 minute ago, Saanim said:

You surely can provide many links about that. The problem is that from Ukraine you will not be able to get any unpleasant news since the opposition there is no longer existing.  

But perhaps one name can remind you: Viktor Medvedchuk

There still are plenty of opposition politicians in Ukraine. Ones who used to be friendly to the Russians. But the invasion has changed that. Like most politicians, they want to be elected. And given the populace's change in attitude towards Russia, adopting Medvedchuk's line would be a political dead end.  

 

What Next for Ukraine’s Formerly Pro-Russian Regions?

"In recent years, despite growing tensions with Russia and the threat of war, this part of Ukraine had retained generally positive attitudes toward its neighbor to the east: 53 percent in Ukraine’s east and 45 percent in the south viewed Russia favorably...

Russia’s invasion largely put an end to this pro-Russian sentiment: by May 2022, only 4 percent in Ukraine’s east and 1 percent in the south still had a positive view of Russia. Support for Ukraine joining NATO, on the other hand, had surged to record highs: 69 percent in the east and 81 percent in the south, up from 36 percent in the east and 48 percent in the south, according to a poll taken on February 16 and 17 of this year.

https://carnegieendowment.org/politika/88542

[Phoenix Rising]

39 minutes ago, Saanim said:

You surely can provide many links about that. The problem is that from Ukraine you will not be able to get any unpleasant news since the opposition there is no longer existing.  

But perhaps one name can remind you: Viktor Medvedchuk

Why can't you just come out and say you hope Putin is successful in conquering Ukraine? That way we can just put you on the ignore list and stop wasting time on your posts.

[Saanim]

1 hour ago, Phoenix Rising said:

Why can't you just come out and say you hope Putin is successful in conquering Ukraine? That way we can just put you on the ignore list and stop wasting time on your posts.

If you want to read only pleasant news about Ukrainian way of war and unpleasant of the Russians, why waiting with your ignore list? 

[Saanim]

1 hour ago, placeholder said:

There still are plenty of opposition politicians in Ukraine. Ones who used to be friendly to the Russians. But the invasion has changed that. Like most politicians, they want to be elected. And given the populace's change in attitude towards Russia, adopting Medvedchuk's line would be a political dead end.  

 

What Next for Ukraine’s Formerly Pro-Russian Regions?

"In recent years, despite growing tensions with Russia and the threat of war, this part of Ukraine had retained generally positive attitudes toward its neighbor to the east: 53 percent in Ukraine’s east and 45 percent in the south viewed Russia favorably...

Russia’s invasion largely put an end to this pro-Russian sentiment: by May 2022, only 4 percent in Ukraine’s east and 1 percent in the south still had a positive view of Russia. Support for Ukraine joining NATO, on the other hand, had surged to record highs: 69 percent in the east and 81 percent in the south, up from 36 percent in the east and 48 percent in the south, according to a poll taken on February 16 and 17 of this year.

https://carnegieendowment.org/politika/88542

If you believe all what you are reading?

 

Wondering whether have you read - and believed or not - about another "musicians" on the Ukrainian front? But not sure what's their current name (whether again according to a famous late composer?).  They are changing their name, similarly like other PMC group... 

 

[placeholder]

3 minutes ago, Saanim said:

If you believe all what you are reading?

 

Wondering whether have you read - and believed or not - about another "musicians" on the Ukrainian front? But not sure what's their current name (whether again according to a famous late composer?).  They are changing their name, similarly like other PMC group... 

 

If you mean the collapse of the Mozart group that was reported on by the New York Times, what's that got to do with this?

[300sd]

1 hour ago, Phoenix Rising said:

Why can't you just come out and say you hope Putin is successful in conquering Ukraine? That way we can just put you on the ignore list and stop wasting time on your posts.

Put me on the ignore list too. I'm against this proxy war soon to become ww3

[Phoenix Rising]

43 minutes ago, Saanim said:

If you want to read only pleasant news about Ukrainian way of war and unpleasant of the Russians, why waiting with your ignore list? 

Russia invaded Ukraine and have killed tens of thousands of their citizens.

End of story.

[Phoenix Rising]

12 minutes ago, 300sd said:

Put me on the ignore list too. I'm against this proxy war soon to become ww3

No. I'd like to keep abreast of what Putin's excuses are.

[Bkk Brian]

#UPDATE European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has praised efforts by Ukraine to stamp out graft in the wake of several public probes and high-profile dismissals linked to embezzlement.

[billyo]

Biden has told him to clean up his act if he wants more money. Turning on your benefactor is a high risk strategy but he probably had no choice. 3 years ago the American Radio Free Europe government channel seem to join up the dots. All pretty murky.

 

 

[internationalism]

as in thailand, corruption is at all levels of power, that example might be just infighting between different factions. 

As kolomoisky created zelensky as a president and supported him, that recent  move can be against zelensky.

in state of war chances for corruption are much higher than peace time, no real controll mechanisms. With all that hundreds of billions from the USA and EU, there are large money on stake. So far nobody audit armaments which have disappeared from ukraine and ended up in Africa and elsewhere in zones of military conflict and civil war, as well as at terrorist's hands.  

[Bkk Brian]

23 minutes ago, internationalism said:

as in thailand, corruption is at all levels of power, that example might be just infighting between different factions. 

As kolomoisky created zelensky as a president and supported him, that recent  move can be against zelensky.

in state of war chances for corruption are much higher than peace time, no real controll mechanisms. With all that hundreds of billions from the USA and EU, there are large money on stake. So far nobody audit armaments which have disappeared from ukraine and ended up in Africa and elsewhere in zones of military conflict and civil war, as well as at terrorist's hands.  

So far nobody audit armaments which have disappeared from ukraine and ended up in Africa and elsewhere in zones of military conflict and civil war, as well as at terrorist's hands.

 

Can you provide a credible link to these claims of yours, particularly those ending up in Africa? A source from a propaganda platform for Iran does not count.

[internationalism]

that article published on 23.01.23 - humanitarian aid  plundered by the very top official.

 

"Ukraine deputy minister sacked for alleged theft of $400,000

Infrastructure deputy Vasyl Lozinskyi detained after allegedly siphoning money from winter aid budget

 

Ukraine’s deputy infrastructure minister, Vasyl Lozinskyi, has been detained and dismissed from his post for allegedly stealing $400,000 (£320,000) intended for purchasing aid, including generators, according to Ukraine’s state anti-corruption detectives and prosecutors."

https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/23/ukraine-deputy-minister-sacked-for-alleged-theft-of-400000

[internationalism]

that article from december:

"Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said that weapons from the raging war between Russia and Ukraine are now slipping into the Lake Chad Basin region."

https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2022/12/06/weapons-from-ukraines-war-now-coming-to-africa/

 

"Denis Pushilin, acting head of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), warns that Ukraine is selling weapons it acquired from the West on the black market."

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/weapons-supplied-to-ukraine-flooding-africas-black-markets:

 

straith from the devil's mouth

"He said weapons meant for the Ukraine war and to combat terrorism in the Sahel are being diverted to West Africa and ending up in the hands of terrorist groups."

https://www.voanews.com/a/nigerian-president-ukraine-war-funneling-arms-fighters-into-lake-chad-basin/6856806.html

 

Edited February 5, 2023 by internationalism

[Bkk Brian]

14 minutes ago, internationalism said:

that article from december:

"Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said that weapons from the raging war between Russia and Ukraine are now slipping into the Lake Chad Basin region."

https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2022/12/06/weapons-from-ukraines-war-now-coming-to-africa/

 

His exact quote:

 

“Regrettably, the situation in the Sahel and the raging war in Ukraine serve as major sources of weapons and fighters that bolster the ranks of the terrorists in Lake Chad Region. A substantial proportion of the arms and ammunitions procured to execute the war in Libya, continues to find its way to the Lake Chad Region and other parts of the Sahel. Weapons being used for the war in Ukraine and Russia are equally beginning to filter to the region."

 

He offers no evidence, not surprising really he has never condemned Russia's invasion into Ukraine.

 

War in Ukraine: Buhari cosiness with Putin's Russia shames Nigeria

Mar 14, 2565 BE — President Muhammadu Buhari's favourite world leaders have long been President Xi Jinping of China and President Vladimir Putin of Russia

https://businessday.ng/columnist/article/war-in-ukraine-buhari-cosiness-with-putins-russia-shames-nigeria/

 

Like I said no credible links to substantiate your claim

 

Edited February 5, 2023 by Bkk Brian

[Mickeymaus]

On 2/2/2023 at 7:52 PM, Bkk Brian said:

#UPDATE European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has praised efforts by Ukraine to stamp out graft in the wake of several public probes and high-profile dismissals linked to embezzlement.

Next will be that the Ukraine will be a member of the NATO, the EU and later will have the Euro. The final goal is obviously that Russia belongs one day to the EU too - or how? 

[internationalism]

contracting food for the army at inflated prices, beyond market price. And money laundering of that $110 000:

 

"On 2 February, Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation (DBR) detained the country’s ex-deputy defense minister, officials, servicemen, and businessmen on accusations of money laundering on food procurement. ...

The arrested former Deputy Minister of Defense Viacheslav Shapovalov faces an even more serious accusation. He is accused not only of lobbying food contracts with inflated prices but also of purchasing low-quality bulletproof vests, helmets, clothing, and other items for a total sum of UAH 1 billion ($25 million)."

 

and similar case, but done by civilians, part of humanitarian aid:

"At the same time, in yet another case investigated by Ukraine’s National Police, three officials of Odesa Oblast administration, including its former deputy head, were accused by money laundering for the total sum of UAH 7 million ($170,000), also mainly during food procurement."

 

https://euromaidanpress.com/2023/02/02/ukraines-ex-deputy-defense-minister-officials-detained-for-money-laundering-on-food-procurement/

 

In January alone dozens of top officials at ministerial level were dismissed, searched, arrested.

 

In August 2022 deputy minister of defence Aleksandr Mironyuk was arrested, with ten's kg cash being retreived from sofa bed by the accused himself, total around $1 000 000. Video released just a few days ago.

https://euroweeklynews.com/2023/02/03/1-million-cash-found-in-ukrainian-deputy-defence-minister-oleksandr-mironyuks-sofa/

 

Edited February 5, 2023 by internationalism

[Bkk Brian]

20 minutes ago, Mickeymaus said:

Next will be that the Ukraine will be a member of the NATO, the EU and later will have the Euro. The final goal is obviously that Russia belongs one day to the EU too - or how? 

If Russia had actually applied to join the EU and Nato then your post could possibly have had a point to it.

[internationalism]

infrastructure minister Lozinskyi got only some 1% of total funds, but his department took some 15%:

 

"In the summer, the cabinet allocated 1.68 billion hryvnias (€40 million) for the purchase of the power-generating equipment needed to get through the winter – when Russia has been massively bombing energy infrastructure facilities across Ukraine. However, according to the NABU, the public officials responsible for the purchase decided to make some extra money on the deal.  

They conspired with a group of intermediaries and ensured the conclusion of procurement contracts with pre-determined business entities. The cost of the contracts was inflated by 280 million hryvnias (€7 million), which was a kickback to be paid to the officials for their facilitation,” the NABU said.

https://www.politico.eu/article/defense-minister-reznikov-ukraine-corruption-probe-war-russia-zelenskyy/

[placeholder]

1 hour ago, internationalism said:

that article from december:

"Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said that weapons from the raging war between Russia and Ukraine are now slipping into the Lake Chad Basin region."

https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2022/12/06/weapons-from-ukraines-war-now-coming-to-africa/

 

"Denis Pushilin, acting head of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), warns that Ukraine is selling weapons it acquired from the West on the black market."

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/weapons-supplied-to-ukraine-flooding-africas-black-markets:

 

straith from the devil's mouth

"He said weapons meant for the Ukraine war and to combat terrorism in the Sahel are being diverted to West Africa and ending up in the hands of terrorist groups."

https://www.voanews.com/a/nigerian-president-ukraine-war-funneling-arms-fighters-into-lake-chad-basin/6856806.html

 

As is noted in at least one of those article, the Nigerian President didn't say that the weapons were coming from Ukraine. He blamed it on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. And given the history of massive corruption in the Russian Army, I know which party is the more likely suspect. Especially given that the Wagner Group is active in Africa.

And as for "Denis Pushilin, acting head of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)", do I really need to spell it out for why he's not a trustworthy source?