Interior Ministry uncovers coal fraud orchestrated by ex-governor's son

The Ministry of Interior of Ukraine has uncovered a fraud scheme organised by the son of former Donetsk Oblast Governor Blyzniuk. Thanks to a meticulously planned scheme, the fraudsters sold the state coal mined at state-owned mines located in occupied territory.

During a search, 12 million hryvnias, 200,000 US dollars, as well as bank cards and keys to safe deposit boxes were seized from the perpetrators. This was personally announced by Arsen Avakov on his internet page.

«Do you remember the former Governor of Donetsk Oblast, former People's Deputy from the Party of Regions, Blyzniuk?» (Do you remember the former Governor of Donetsk Oblast, former People's Deputy from the Party of Regions, Blyzniuk?)

Did you? Then today's brief report on the work of the Interior Ministry's operational officers, as well as the seizure of 12,000,000 hryvnias and nearly 200,000 USD during the search, will not surprise you!» (Did you? Then today's brief report on the work of the Interior Ministry's operational officers, as well as the seizure of 12,000,000 hryvnias and nearly 200,000 USD during the search, will not surprise you!)

So, today the activities of a criminal group led by Blyzniuk A.A. (son of the former Governor of Donetsk Oblast) were stopped.» (So, today the activities of a criminal group led by Blyzniuk A.A. (son of the former Governor of Donetsk Oblast) were stopped.)

The Main Investigative Department of the Ministry of Interior of Ukraine has been investigating a criminal case for several months regarding the illegal sale of coal in 2014-2015, which was mined in the temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts.» (The Main Investigative Department of the Ministry of Interior of Ukraine has been investigating a criminal case for several months regarding the illegal sale of coal in 2014-2015, which was mined in the temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts.)

The scheme is as follows:
Coal illegally exported from occupied territory was documented as belonging to private companies, after which it was sold to a number of enterprises, including «Kramatorskteploenergo», which receives funds for electricity generation from the state enterprise «Energorynok». And then it is brutally simple - they received money into their accounts, withdrew cash using forged documents - and exported it to the DNR/LNR...» (The scheme is as follows: Coal illegally exported from occupied territory was documented as belonging to private companies, after which it was sold to a number of enterprises, including «Kramatorskteploenergo», which receives funds for electricity generation from the state enterprise «Energorynok». And then it is brutally simple - they received money into their accounts, withdrew cash using forged documents - and exported it to the DNR/LNR...)

In other words, the state was effectively buying state-owned coal mined at mines seized by terrorists.» (In other words, the state was effectively buying state-owned coal mined at mines seized by terrorists.)

The private companies are fictitious and were specifically opened to implement the illegal scheme by members of the criminal group led by Blyzniuk O.A., son of the former People's Deputy from the Party of Regions and former Governor of Donetsk Oblast. Money was withdrawn in cash from the accounts of these companies and sent to finance the terrorists. The managers have already been questioned and gave testimony that they registered and became directors for material reward and have no connection to the financial and economic activities of these enterprises.» (The private companies are fictitious and were specifically opened to implement the illegal scheme by members of the criminal group led by Blyzniuk O.A., son of the former People's Deputy from the Party of Regions and former Governor of Donetsk Oblast. Money was withdrawn in cash from the accounts of these companies and sent to finance the terrorists. The managers have already been questioned and gave testimony that they registered and became directors for material reward and have no connection to the financial and economic activities of these enterprises.)

During the investigation, the Main Investigative Department of the Ministry of Interior, jointly with the Prosecutor General's Office, conducted 20 searches in Kyiv and Zhytomyr, Poltava, Sumy, and Donetsk oblasts.» (During the investigation, the Main Investigative Department of the Ministry of Interior, jointly with the Prosecutor General's Office, conducted 20 searches in Kyiv and Zhytomyr, Poltava, Sumy, and Donetsk oblasts.)

During the searches, approximately 200,000 US dollars, approximately 12 million hryvnias, dozens of bank cards, dozens of mobile phones, SIM cards from Ukrainian and Russian operators, rental documents and keys to bank safe deposit boxes (how much and what else is stored there will be determined by the investigation), electronic storage media, documents and seals of offshore companies, more than 6 units of firearms and 830 cartridges were seized.» (During the searches, approximately 200,000 US dollars, approximately 12 million hryvnias, dozens of bank cards, dozens of mobile phones, SIM cards from Ukrainian and Russian operators, rental documents and keys to bank safe deposit boxes (how much and what else is stored there will be determined by the investigation), electronic storage media, documents and seals of offshore companies, more than 6 units of firearms and 830 cartridges were seized.)

Frauds on complexities and sorrow.. The tangle is only beginning to be unraveled.. Investigative actions are ongoing», - Avakov wrote on the social network Facebook.