NABU and SAPO expose large-scale corruption scheme of influence on Energoatom

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) are conducting a large-scale operation to expose corruption in the energy sector.

This was announced by NABU and SAPO, Ukrainian News Agency reports.

"15 months of work and 1,000 hours of audio recordings. The activities of a high-level criminal organization have been documented. Its participants built a large-scale corruption scheme to influence strategic state-sector enterprises, in particular JSC Energoatom national nuclear power generating company," NABU reported.

The main area of ​​​​the suspects' activities was the systematic receipt of illegal benefits from Energoatom's counterparties in the amount of 10% to 15% of the value of contracts.

In particular, Energoatom's counterparties were imposed conditions for paying kickbacks for avoiding blocking payments for services provided/products delivered or deprivation of supplier status. This practice was called "barrier".

The head of the criminal organization involved the former deputy head of the State Property Fund, who later became an advisor to the Minister of Energy, as well as a former law enforcement officer who held the position of executive director for physical protection and security of the company, in the implementation of the scheme.

Using official connections in the ministry and the state-owned company, they ensured control over personnel decisions, procurement processes and the movement of financial flows.

In fact, the management of a strategic enterprise with an annual income of over UAH 200 billion was carried out not by official officials, but by outsiders who did not have any formal powers, but took on the role of "watchers".

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, on the morning of November 10, detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau came to search the businessman, co-owner of the Kvartal 95 studio, Tymur Mindich.

In addition, NABU is conducting a search at the residence of Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko and Energoatom.