The American newspaper Pittsburgh Post-Gazette published a large-scale investigation into the Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky. The investigation concerns Kolomoisky’s illegal deals in the United States.
Kyiv. Ukraine. Ukraine Gate – April 19, 2021 – International News
“Prosecutors say Kolomoisky secretly bought ten other steel plants in small towns from Ohio to Texas,” the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.
It is noted that in 2006-2016, the oligarch and his partners owned 13 steel plants in the United States. They were purchased for money illegally withdrawn from the Ukrainian Privatbank, the newspaper writes. It is added that the Ukrainian oligarch took possession of four office buildings in Cleveland and a luxury hotel with 484 rooms.
Earlier, the US Department of Justice accused Kolomoisky and Bogolyubov of using illegally misappropriated funds to purchase an office building in Cleveland.
According to the newspaper, Kolomoisky’s plants in the United States had a low level of safety and there were regular situations where employees were injured. Violations were also observed in compliance with environmental regulations.
According to the newspaper, it was the poor management, as well as some factories, that were later closed, which led to the loss of jobs. In some cases, due to violations in the procedure of tax deductions, injured and dismissed workers had difficulties in obtaining their due payments.
Such manifestations have dangerous consequences, which are financial crimes, such as money laundering, the newspaper writes.
The publication notes that the US Department of Justice and Ukrainian law enforcement agencies are investigating Kolomoisky’s assets.
In August 2020, the US Department of Justice accused the Ukrainian oligarch of embezzling and laundering billions of dollars.
On Friday, March 5, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced the inclusion of Ukrainian businessman Igor Kolomoisky and members of his family on the sanctions list for involvement in corruption during his tenure as head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration in 2014-2015.
The State Department said that Blinken has “reliable information” that Igor Kolomoisky was involved in significant corruption, being the head of the regional state administration in 2014-2015.
The Office of the President of Ukraine expressed gratitude to Ukraine’s partners for their support in the fight against the oligarchs.
The EU later backed US sanctions on Kolomoisky. Only after that, President Volodymyr Zelensky commented on US sanctions against Kolomoisky.
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Source: Ukrgate
