Corruption

Kobolev is still banned from leaving Ukraine, according to the results of the Cassation in the AFU

The Supreme Court of Ukraine has refused to consider the appeal filed by the lawyer of the former head of the Ukrainian state-run oil and gas trader Naftohaz Ukrayiny, Andriy Kobolev, against the application of a preventive measure to the defendant in the form of a number of procedural obligations, including a ban on traveling outside Ukraine. This is evidenced by the Ruling of the Cassation Criminal Court of the Supreme Court of Ukraine, informs Komersant ukrainskyi .

On the eve of the Supreme anti-corruption court in a ruling dated December 03, 2024, satisfied the prosecutor’s petition and imposed on Kobolev the duties under paragraphs 1, 2, 3 of part. 5 of article 194 of the CPC of Ukraine.

These are about:

• to inform the court about the change of place of residence;
• refrain from communicating with witnesses in the case;
• surrender all passports to the State Migration Service of Ukraine.

The term of validity of the ruling was determined – “until February 03, 2025 inclusive”.

Kobolev’s defense tried to appeal this decision, but the Appellate Division of the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court “refused to open proceedings on the defense counsel’s appeal”. The judges of the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court Cassation made a similar decision.

“…to refuse the defender of the accused PERSON_4 – lawyer PERSON_5 in the opening of cassation proceedings on his cassation appeal against the ruling of the judge of the Appellate Chamber of the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court of December 20”, – says the text of the Determination of 03.02.2025.

New Determination of the SACS

Later, the VAKS extended the procedural duties imposed on the ex-head of Naftogaz Andriy Kobolev until March 23, 2025.

Kobolev case

According to the NABU version, Kobolev took possession of more than UAH 229 million in 2018 – his actions are qualified under part 5 of article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (embezzlement, misappropriation of property or taking possession of it by abuse of office).

This article provides for a penalty of imprisonment for 7 to 12 years with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to 3 years and confiscation of property.

NABU detectives believe that Kobolev, while holding the position of the head of Naftogaz “himself initiated the consideration by the Supervisory Board of the company to agree on the payment of a bonus to him “for the achievement of weighty goals”, and subsequently prepared amendments and additions to the submission on the bonus for extraordinary achievements, determining its size in 10 million U.S. dollars”.

Read us in Telegram: the main news in short

NABU is investigating another criminal case against ex-head of Naftogaz Kobolev

The case of the NABU on charges of ex-head of Naftogaz Andriy Kobolev in the illegal payment of 229 million UAH of bonuses to himself has now been transferred to the court and is being heard in the VAKS (proceedings № 42018000000001782). At the same time, it turned out that the NABU now has another criminal proceeding against Kobolev – No. 52023000000000177. And the facts that detectives are investigating within its framework are also related to the accrual and payment of multimillion bonuses to Kobolev.

In particular, the text of the relevant Resolution of the SACS notes that the case No. 52023000000000177 was separated from the case No. 42018000000001782. And this new proceeding concerns “the circumstances of payment of the second part of the bonus to Kobolev and agreement on the extension of the labor contract”.

The former head of Naftohaz, Andriy Kobolev, has finally left Ukraine

This was revealed during one of the meetings of the SACS at the beginning of this year. It is not known exactly how and when Kobolev left Ukraine. Whether he returned is also unknown.

Kobolev assured that there were no intentions to flee

“Despite the completion of my duties, I will not flee anywhere (no matter how much someone hopes for it),” he stated in November 2024.