Former Ukrainian energy minister is remanded in custody with US$4.6m bail option

Former Ukrainian energy and justice minister Herman Halushchenko, who alongside businessman Tymur Mindich is a suspect in the Operation Midas case into alleged corruption linked to Ukraine's nuclear power company Energoatom, has been remanded in custody with the option of posting bail of UAH 200 million (US$4.6 million).

Source: High Anti-Corruption Court's hearing

Details: Prosecutors from the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) had asked the court to order Halushchenko's detention with UAH 425 million (US$9.8 million) to be set in bail as an alternative.

Judges set bail at UAH 200 million (US$4.6 million), with detention as the alternative, for 60 days until 15 April. The former minister's passport is to be seized and he is to be fitted with an electronic tag.

After the ruling, Halushchenko said he is "unhappy" with the decision and "will raise money for lawyers to file an appeal".

Halushchenko said during the hearing that he does not have the funds to post bail and does not know anyone who could pay such a substantial amount on his behalf.

"This is not bail; this is a sentence. It means that a person will remain [behind bars – ed.]. Unfortunately, in our country this is common practice. A person is already serving a punishment," he said.

Background:

• On 16 February, the High Anti-Corruption Court considered a complaint from the defence alleging that the former energy minister's detention was unlawful. The complaint was partially upheld, but Halushchenko was remanded in custody pending the selection of a pre-trial restriction.
• On the morning of 10 November, it was revealed that detectives from Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) had conducted searches at the homes of Tymur Mindich and then-justice minister Halushchenko (who was suspended on 12 November). Ukrainska Pravda sources also reported that Mindich left Ukraine hours before the searches.
• That same day, NABU reported that they had exposed a large-scale corruption scheme in the energy sector and released audio recordings.
• On the night of 14-15 February, NABU and SAPO detained Halushchenko as he attempted to cross the border.

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