Ukrainian state safety officers searched the house of billionaire businessman Ihor Kolomoiskiy on Wednesday, in what a number of media shops stated was an investigation into attainable monetary crimes.
The Safety Service of Ukraine (SBU) didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark in regards to the reviews, and Kolomoiskiy couldn’t be reached for remark.
A senior governing occasion official confirmed Kolomoiskiy’s house had been searched – in addition to that of a former inside minister – however didn’t state the explanation for the search.
Images circulating on social media appeared to indicate Kolomoiskiy, wearing a sweatsuit, trying on within the presence of at the least one SBU officer inside a big wood house. Reuters couldn’t instantly confirm the authenticity of the pictures.
Kolomoiskiy is one among Ukraine’s richest males and a one-time ally of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who launched a crackdown on rich businessmen referred to as “oligarchs” in late 2021 – earlier than Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
Kolomoiskiy, who’s from the central metropolis of Dnipro and owns an array of belongings together with one among Ukraine’s most influential tv channels, backed Zelenskiy’s election marketing campaign in 2019.
Ukrainska Pravda stated Wednesday’s search associated to an investigation into the alleged embezzlement of oil merchandise and evasion of customs duties, and that it was carried out by the SBU and the Financial Safety Bureau of Ukraine.
Ukrainian anti-corruption officers are additionally investigating a case by which they believe eight folks of embezzling belongings and funds from a state-controlled oil firm previously tied to Kolomoiskiy.
The US sanctioned him in 2021 “attributable to his involvement in vital corruption”. U.S. authorities have additionally alleged Kolomoiskiy and a enterprise companion laundered stolen funds by america. Kolomoiskiy has denied any wrongdoing.
