Investigators in Midas case cooperating with around 10 jurisdictions, Ukrainian anti-corruption agency says

Semen Kryvonos, director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), has said investigators in the high-profile Midas corruption case, which involves a close associate of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, are actively cooperating with approximately ten jurisdictions, including EU countries.

Source: Kryvonos and Oleksandr Klymenko, Head of the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), during a briefing at Ukrinform

Quote from Kryvonos: "At present, we are actively cooperating with around 10 different jurisdictions, including EU countries, to obtain information on financial transactions, accounts and assets."

Details: Kryvonos stressed that NABU is not serving new notices of suspicion at this stage, but expects additional details in the case, which will be made public as soon as it becomes procedurally possible.

"We are trying to communicate cautiously – this is related to evidence collection, expert examinations and responses from our international partners. But this is by no means the end – the investigation is ongoing," the NABU head added.

Kryvonos also confirmed that extradition procedures are underway, particularly as regards certain individuals in Israel.

Quote from Kryvonos: "When we complete all the necessary measures to submit an extradition request, we will do so and will work with Israel and other countries on the extradition of the individuals involved."

Details: Speaking about the role of the State Financial Monitoring Service, Kryvonos said the agency had blocked a significant sum of money intended to be posted as bail for a suspect in the case who is currently in custody.

"The funds were blocked, so bail for the suspect was not posted. As regards chains through which money was paid for other individuals involved, the Financial Monitoring Service provided all the necessary information, and it is now being processed by detectives and prosecutors within the framework of Article 209 of the Criminal Code [of Ukraine] and other provisions," he said.

Asked about cooperation with the State Financial Monitoring Service, Klymenko noted that it could be more active.

"Financial monitoring could work much more actively in this proceeding," he said.

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Previously: On 26 November, Kryvonos said at the UP 100 awards ceremony that NABU and SAPO had moved from a closed stage to a financial investigation stage in the high-profile Midas case, which involves a close friend of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Tymur Mindich.

Background:

• Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing sources familiar with the negotiations with the American side in Kyiv, that the issue of NABU and SAPO investigations had been raised privately during a meeting between US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Andrii Yermak, the then head of the President's Office, and Rustem Umierov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council (NSDC).
• Sources familiar with the conversation told Ukrainska Pravda that Zelenskyy had indicated that he would not be able to "move forward" if anti-corruption agencies soon filed charges against members of his closest circle, as such steps could jeopardise negotiations with the US and European partners.

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