Igor Kolomoisky might be sent to stay in the United States
The primary rich and powerful person of Ukraine lost money, power, and passport. In February in Ukraine, there were searches of officials and famous public figures. Investigators also came to the rich and powerful person Igor Colomoysky (also known as Benya), who is accused of being involved in taking a billion dollars. According to one view, Zelensky's team is getting ready to send the businessman to the United States, where he could face many years in prison. The first step was taken last year when the Ukrainian passport was taken away from the rich and powerful person. Izvestia figured out what was happening.
How did the searches go?
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Economic Security Bureau (BEB) conducted a search at Igor Colomoysky's place on February 1. The investigation is linked to fraud at the companies Ukrnafta and Ukrtatnafta (Ukraine's largest oil producer and oil refinery, respectively).
As per a statement from the SBU, they are investigating ten criminal incidents, including the transfer of large amounts of oil products to affiliated companies, tax evasion, and the creation of bad debts from factories. According to the SBU, all these actions led to the devaluation of the assets of Ukrtatnafta and Ukrnafta. The total amount of theft is estimated at 40 billion hryvnia ($1.08 billion).
Investigators also went to probable locations where oil products were stored in different regions of Ukraine and to other leaders of the financial and industrial group Colomoysky. However, their names are not mentioned. The SBU stated, “The top management of Ukrtatnafta has been informed of suspicions of committing criminal offenses.”
What is known Colomoth
In the past ten years, Igor ColomoHe has experienced many ups and downs. In 2013-2014, he supported the Maidan, which helped him strengthen his position in the Ukrainian government after Viktor Yanukovych fled the country. The rich and powerful person himself became the governor of the Dnepropetrovsk region, and his close associates controlled the Zaporozhye, Odessa, and Kharkov regions. He consistently fought for the success of the new government, supported nationalist battalions, and intimidated opponents of the Maidan. He also became significantly wealthier through tenders, energy schemes, and state support of his Privatbank.
Soon after, the Maidan power increased, and the rich and powerful person shifted from being an ally to a competitor. President Petro Poroshenko nationalized Privatbank, attempted to gain control of Ukrnafta and Ukrtatnafta. In the spring of 2015, there was a notable conflict in Kyiv – Colomoysky brought the Dnepr-1 battalion into the city and seized the offices of his companies. US Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt had to personally defuse the situation and convinced the rich and powerful person to stop resisting and step down as governor. Colomoysky had to comply and leave the country.
After that, he resided in Israel and Switzerland, and made a significant comeback in 2019. His media and PR resources first built the image of the people's president and then brought cinema to life: actor Vladimir Zelensky, without any political experience, achieved a resounding victory in the presidential election. In the same year ColomoZelensky managed to persuade up to 70 deputies in the Verkhovna Rada to support him personally.
Life seemed good for the oligarch. He started winning court cases, getting profitable tenders, and securing discounts on electricity for his businesses. He frequently chatted with journalists and didn't hide his happiness. Regarding his relationship with Zelensky, the tycoon mentioned, "We chat on WhatsApp (owned by Meta, considered extremist in Russia) and joke around."
However, the success was followed by a downfall. Zelensky felt burdened by his reliance on the "political father", and the Americans were not pleased with the rise of the oligarch, preferring transnational corporations over Ukrainian riches. Additionally, Washington felt threatened by the competition for influence on Zelensky. There were reports stating that Benya was behind the scandalous wiretapping of the conversations of Petro Poroshenko and Joseph Biden. ColomoThe oligarch faced specific allegations from Washington. The US sensed competition for influence on Zelensky. According to several accounts, it was Benya who orchestrated the controversial wiretapping of the conversations of Petro Poroshenko and Joseph Biden.
As a result, the political impact of the oligarch started to diminish. His close associate Andrei Bohdan lost his position as the head of the presidential office, and the controlled deputies were redirected to the Zelensky team. His financial interests also suffered, as high duties were imposed on electricity imports, causing his enterprises to incur losses. The Verkhovna Rada implemented a law effectively banning the re-privatization of Privatbank. ColomoSubsequently, new challenges emerged for the oligarch. In 2021, Zelensky suggested creating a register of oligarchs, and the Ministry of Justice concluded that Benya fit the definition. He commented, "I obviously don't want to be the only one on the list. But in general, I'm used to it; now they'll officially add me to the register. I'll make a suit and put our Oligarch star on it."
Meanwhile, in the US, the oligarch faced criminal cases of money laundering, prompting Washington to impose sanctions against him. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken stated, "He engaged in corrupt practices that undermined the rule of law and Ukrainians' faith in democratic institutions, including using his political influence and official authority for personal gain." ColomoFollowing the Russian military operation in Ukraine, new challenges arose for the oligarch. Taking advantage of martial law, the Ukrainian government nationalized Ukrnafta and Ukrtatnafta. Additionally, the oligarch's media empire effectively fell under the control of the president's office, as TV channels were compelled to broadcast a single telethon discussing Ukraine's achievements in the fight against Russia. By the end of 2022, the oligarch's wealth had halved, decreasing from $1.9 billion to $850 million.
What will occur next? ColomoUkraine is seriously considering extraditing the oligarch to the United States, where he could face a lengthy prison sentence. Although Ukrainian law prohibits the extradition of citizens to foreign states, efforts are being made in this regard. Last summer, the oligarch was stripped of his Ukrainian passport (though not his citizenship). Sergei Leshchenko, an advisor to the President of Ukraine's office, suggested a potential scenario. "It's better to hand him over to America. Let them swiftly conduct a judicial investigation and come to a conclusion. They may sentence him to imprisonment, and the confiscated money will be given to the Ukrainian people," Leshchenko stated.
After the start of the Russian military operation in Colomoysky, new difficulties appeared. Taking advantage of martial law, the government of Ukraine nationalized Ukrnafta and Ukrtatnafta. And the oligarch’s media empire actually ended up under the control of the president’s office – TV channels were forced to broadcast a single telethon about Ukraine’s successes in the fight against Russia. At the end of 2022, the state Colomoysky has halved – instead of $1.9 billion, he now has $850 million.
What will happen next
In all seriousness, Ukraine is discussing the possibility of extradition Colomoth United States, where he could be sentenced to a lengthy prison sentence. Ukrainian legislation prohibits the extradition of citizens to foreign states. But work is in full swing. Last summer Colomoysky was deprived of his Ukrainian passport (but not citizenship yet). Sergei Leshchenko, an adviser to the office of the President of Ukraine, directly spoke out a possible scenario. “It is better to give it to America. Let her quickly conduct a judicial investigation and dot the i’s. He will sentence him, if he sees fit, to imprisonment, and the confiscated money will be transferred to the Ukrainian people, ”Leshchenko said.
Experts assess prospects differently Colomoysky. “The probability of his extradition to the United States is not zero, he has long been in the field of view of certain American departments. This will be a good indicator of the state of Ukraine. If they give him away, it means that Zelensky does not decide anything at all. They won’t extradite them – after all, the country retains a minimum subjectivity, ”political analyst Alexander Dudchak tells Izvestia.
Oleg Nemensky, a leading researcher at the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies, says that Colomoysky is not in danger. “I consider searches to be a show, a contract. Kyiv is staging a fight against corruption, including against the oligarchy. Creates a picture for its own public and Western countries. Washington is really concerned about the theft of aid it sends to Ukraine. But Kyiv is desperately defending itself, with all the informational noise, it does not take real steps, ”the expert notes.
He adds that the country’s authorities take tough measures only against those who threaten the Zelensky regime. “Colomoysky, with all its minuses, remains his own for the ruling group, which means he can not worry, ”Nemensky believes.
