Poroshenko helps Medvedchuk take over oil pipeline – sources

The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NACB) collected a large-scale evidence base in the case of the Samara-Western Direction oil pipeline and reported the suspicion to the former member of the Verkhovna Rada Viktor Medvedchuk and his accomplices; ex-president Petro Poroshenko is also involved in the scheme.

The Ukrainian News Agency has learned this from sources in law enforcement agencies.

The SSU and NACB have collected a large-scale evidence base that proves the illegality of the privatization of the state oil pipeline Samara-Western Direction in 2015.

So far, the suspicion has been reported to Medvedchuk and four representatives of the former top management of Prykarpatzakhidtrans, which took over and managed the oil pipeline.

In accordance with the crimes committed, under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor General's Office and the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office, suspicion was declared under the following articles of the Penal Code:

- Section 3 of Article 27, Section 3 of Article 28, Section 3 of Article 365-2 (abuse of authority by persons providing public services);

- Section 3 of Article 27, Section 3 of Article 28, Section 2 of Article 384 (misleading the court or other authorized body);

- Section 3 of Article 27, Section 5 of Article 191 (appropriation of other people's property by an official abusing his official position, committed on a particularly large scale by an organized group);

- Section 3 of Article 27, Section 3 of Article 209 (organization of the acquisition, possession, and use of funds, as a result of the commission of a socially dangerous illegal act, which preceded the legalization (laundering) of income, committed by an organized group and in a particularly large amount).

According to the case file, Medvedchuk was the organizer of the illegal privatization scheme.

According to the SSU, he began its implementation in 2015. He acted in clear coordination with the then top political leadership of Ukraine and russia.

Medvedchuk involved third parties in the scheme, who later received management positions at the company that "privatized" the specified oil pipeline.

As evidenced by the materials of the proceedings, the Samara-Western Direction oil pipeline remained the property of russia after the collapse of the USSR.

Starting from 2005, Ukraine, through the courts, proved its right to own it, and only in 2014-2015 this right was confirmed by the Appellate and Higher Economic Courts.

However, with the support of the top leadership of Ukraine at the time, Medvedchuk managed to overturn this decision through the Rivne Commercial Court and formalize the sale of the oil product pipeline to a Swiss company, which was actually controlled by the participants of the scheme.

The SSU does not disclose surnames, but according to Ukrainian News sources in the law enforcement agencies, it is, in particular, Poroshenko.

After taking possession of the "pipe," Medvedchuk and his accomplices ensured its operation through the Prykarpatzakhidtrans enterprise, and the profits received were transferred to the accounts of affiliated foreign companies and distributed among themselves.

The relevant information is supported by the evidence at the disposal of NACB and the SSU, as well as the testimony of Medvedchuk himself, which was voluntarily provided by him before the exchange with the russian federation.

Since May 2019, the pumping of diesel fuel through the oil pipeline has been blocked for its return to state ownership while law enforcement agencies investigated the legality of the privatization.

In January 2024, the Supreme Court of Ukraine finally recognized the Ukrainian Section of the oil pipeline as state property.

Currently, the pre-trial investigation is ongoing, and a set of measures is being taken to bring the suspects who are abroad to justice.

The circle of all those involved in this illegal arrangement is also established.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, the Supreme Court recognized the state's ownership of the Ukrainian Section of the main oil pipeline, Samara - Western Direction.

This asset is known as "Medvedchuk's pipe".

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