Ukraine's border guard service states Mindich crossed border legally

Amid significant public attention, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS) issued a statement confirming that Tymur Mindich crossed the border legally.

Source: SBGS press service

Details: According to the statement, the SBGS conducted an internal investigation to determine the circumstances of Mindich's border crossing.

"Following the inspection, we confirm that this citizen's border crossing was lawful. He was officially processed for departure from Ukraine at one of the border checkpoints in accordance with current legislation. All documents granting the right to cross the border during martial law were in order," the statement reads.

The agency also emphasised that at the time, no travel restrictions had been imposed on Mindich, and therefore, there were no grounds to prohibit his departure from Ukraine.

The Border Guard Service also stated that its inspectors "did not receive any directive from law enforcement agencies" regarding Mindinch if he was detected at the state border – such as a travel ban, a search request, or a requirement to notify authorities about the fact of crossing the state border.

The State Border Guard Service usually responds to journalists' inquiries about individuals crossing the border by saying it cannot disclose personal data concerning third parties.

Background:

• Ukrainska Pravda sources reported that on the morning of 10 November, NABU detectives conducted searches at the home of Tymur Mindich, a businessman and co-owner of Kvartal 95, the Ukrainian TV production company Volodymyr Zelenskyy founded before he became president.
• According to the same sources, Mindich left Ukraine hours before the search began.
• NABU confirmed that, together with the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), it is conducting a large-scale operation to expose corruption in the energy sector.
• The investigators have uncovered an extensive corruption network influencing strategic state companies, including the state-owned nuclear energy company Energoatom.
• NABU and SAPO have released part of the audio recordings from Operation Midas, their investigation into the large-scale corruption scheme in the energy sector.
• Oleksandr Abakumov, the head of a NABU detective unit, said that NABU is examining the circumstances of Mindich's escape from Ukraine and will take measures to bring him back to the country.

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