KIEV (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 11th April, 2019) Some of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's administration officials are suspected of assisting associates of the country's former leader Viktor Yanukovych in their alleged crimes, Deputy Head of the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office Department of International Legal Cooperation Konstantin Kulik said on Thursday.
In late March, the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine completed its investigation into the case of Serhiy Kurchenko, a Ukrainian businessman, who is suspected of gross embezzlement together with some of Yanukovych's associates. A total of 98 people, including high-ranking officials from Poroshenko's administration, are suspected to be involved in the case. According to media reports, former head of Poroshenko's presidential administration Boris Lozhkin, his deputy Alexey Filatov and former National Bank Governor Valeria Gontareva are being suspected by the prosecutors.
"[We have learned] facts that indicate that members of the Ukrainian presidential administration and leadership of the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine provided assistance to members of Yanukovych's criminal organization," Kulik stated.
Kulik also confirmed that Filatov, Gontareva and Lozhkin were probed by the prosecutors.
Kurchenko is the owner of several major companies, such as the UMH media holding and the East European Energy Company (VETEK). In 2014, following Yanukovych's ousting, Kurchenko and other businessmen and state officials considered close to Yanukovych became subject to an asset freeze imposed by the European Union. Kurchenko managed to flee the country earlier. He is currently on an international wanted list.
