Monaco assassination attempt on Ukrainian businessman: intelligence officer's premises searched – lawyer

Lawyer Masi Nayyem has reported that the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) is conducting searches at the premises of an employee of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) on the morning of 6 November as part of an investigation into the attempted assassination of businessman Vadym Yermolaiev in Monaco. The SSU later confirmed the searches.

Source: Nayyem on Facebook and in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda; the SSU in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda

Quote from Nayyem: "An urgent search is being carried out at the premises of an employee of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine. Supposedly in connection with the Monaco case. The SSU is conducting it. They broke down the door, forced him to the ground and handcuffed him."

Details: Nayyem added that he is representing the serviceman as his lawyer and has arrived at the scene.

"Under the law, they should have waited for DIU's internal security officers to arrive. They didn't," the lawyer wrote.

Speaking to Ukrainska Pravda, Nayyem added that the search is being conducted without a court warrant.

Ukrainska Pravda contacted the SSU for comment.

Update: The SSU later confirmed to Ukrainska Pravda that it is indeed conducting searches in Kyiv as part of the investigation into the attempted assassination in Monaco.

"To ensure a thorough and impartial investigation into the criminal case concerning the events that took place in the Principality of Monaco this summer, the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police, under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General's Office, are carrying out investigative measures in Kyiv today [6 November – ed.].

As the investigation is ongoing, no further details can be disclosed at this stage," the SSU said.

Background:

• At around 21:00 on 29 June, an attempt was made to assassinate sanctioned Ukrainian businessman Vadym Yermolaiev and members of his family in Monaco.
• Media reports indicated that investigators in Monaco were examining the possibility that the SSU had been involved in the attempted assassination.
• On 3 July, Interpol issued an international wanted notice for Anastasiia Berezovska, a 39-year-old Ukrainian citizen. According to Monaco law enforcement authorities, she was suspected of planting an explosive device that left Yermolaiev and members of his family seriously injured.
• On 7 July, it emerged that Berezovska had been found murdered and buried near Kyiv.
• On the same day, the National Police, SSU, DIU and Prosecutor General's Office announced that two people had been arrested on suspicion of murdering the woman wanted by Interpol. Investigators believe the men may also have been involved in the attempted assassination of the Ukrainian businessman in Monaco, as evidence suggests they had repeatedly transferred money to Berezovska's cryptocurrency wallets and bank accounts.
• According to investigators, Berezovska was murdered on 3 July near the village of Yuriv in Kyiv Oblast by Vladyslav Reut, an employee of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, and his accomplice Vitalii Zhykovych, a former SSU employee.
• On 9 July, Kyiv's Pecherskyi District Court remanded Reut and Zhykovych, who were suspected of murdering Berezovska, in custody without the possibility of bail.
• Sources close to the investigation told Ukrainska Pravda that investigators believe Vitalii Zhykovych and Vladyslav Reut were the organisers of the attack in Monaco. Both men allegedly acted as handlers for Anastasiia Berezovska, who was suspected of attempting to assassinate Yermolaiev.
• Yermolaiev himself accused Ukrainian intelligence of orchestrating the attempt on his life and those of his family members and called for guarantees of protection for all of them.

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