Operation Forrest Gump: UP journalist reveals identity of "Vasia" on anti-corruption agencies’ tapes

The name "Vasia" was mentioned in a discussion about bail for former energy minister Herman Halushchenko that was caught on tape by Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies as part of Operation Forrest Gump. Now it appears the name may refer to businessman Vasyl Astion.

Source: Tkach in a comment on behalf of Ukrainska Pravda on YouTube

Quote: "We at Ukrainska Pravda reported back in early June, among other things, that bail was to be posted for Halushchenko and that the money was being collected. And we said at the time that the businessman Vasyl Astion might be involved. As far as we understand, he is currently abroad. Our sources in business circles say he lives in Vienna.

And now, even though Mr Astion denied it when we published that news in Ukrainska Pravda, called me directly and said it was a mistake and he had nothing to do with it, we hear the people in the recordings talking about someone called Vasia. Judging by the voice, we can assume that Mr Astion himself may also be heard on the tapes."

Details: Tkach said that a large number of businesspeople, an MP, a former MP, the Deputy Head of the President's Office, an unnamed senior official from the President's Office and a state-owned bank were all involved in efforts to post bail for one of the Operation Midas suspects.

Quote: "It is obvious that all these people could not have carried out this task without a signal, a request and an order from the country's leadership."

Background:

• On the morning of 19 August, sources told Ukrainska Pravda that the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) were conducting searches as part of a special operation at premises belonging to MP Vadym Stolar, who was elected to parliament from the now-banned Opposition Platform – For Life party, and Iryna Mudra, Deputy Head of the President's Office. Stolar confirmed that investigative actions were being carried out at his home and said he was cooperating with NABU.
• In recordings of conversations released by NABU, Mykytas appears to be asking for the amount needed to post bail for Halushchenko to be "channelled" through companies under his control.

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