Corruption

HACC allowed Kobolev to travel outside Ukraine

According to the decision of the HACC, the former head of Naftogaz, Andriy Kobolyev, is subject to certain procedural obligations in the case of a multimillion-dollar bonus, valid until May 11, 2025, inclusive. However, these obligations no longer include a ban on leaving Ukraine, according to the court ruling of March 11, Kommersant Ukrainsky reports.

“To partially satisfy the request of the prosecutor of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office PERSON_5 to extend the term of the duties imposed on the accused PERSON_8 (Kobolev – ed.), born INFORMATION_1, in criminal proceedings No. 42018000000001782 of 24.07.2018.

To extend the term of the duties imposed on the accused PERSON_8, born INFORMATION_1, namely:

1) to notify the court of a change of residence;

2) to refrain from communicating with PERSON_9, PERSON_10, PERSON_11, PERSON_12, PERSON_13, PERSON_14, PERSON_15, PERSON_16, PERSON_17, PERSON_18, PERSON_19;

The validity of the ruling shall be established until May 11, 2025 inclusive,” the ruling says.

Instead, the previous HACC ruling on procedural obligations imposed on Kobolyev also provided for the need to “hand over all foreign passports to the State Migration Service of Ukraine.” The ruling expired on March 23 this year.

The Kobolev case

According to the NABU, Kobolyev embezzled more than UAH 229 million in 2018 – his actions are qualified under Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (misappropriation, embezzlement or seizure of property through abuse of office).

This article provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment for a term of 7 to 12 years with disqualification to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to 3 years and confiscation of property.

The NABU detectives believe that Kobolyev, while holding the position of the head of Naftogaz, “himself initiated consideration by the Supervisory Board of the company of the issue of approving the payment of a bonus to him “for achieving significant goals”, and subsequently prepared amendments to the proposal for the bonus for extraordinary achievements, determining its amount at USD 10 million.”

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NABU is investigating another criminal case against former Naftogaz CEO Kobolyev

NABU’s case against former Naftogaz CEO Andriy Kobolyev for illegally paying himself UAH 229 million in bonuses has now been submitted to the court and is being heard by the HACC (case No. 42018000000001782). At the same time, it turned out that the NABU currently has another criminal proceeding against Kobolyev – No. 52023000000000177. And the facts investigated by detectives within its framework are also related to the accrual and payment of multimillion-dollar bonuses to Kobolyev.

The text of the relevant HACC Ruling, in particular, states that proceedings No. 52023000000000177 were separated from case No. 42018000000001782. And this new proceeding concerns “the circumstances of payment of the second part of the bonus to Kobolyev and approval of the extension of the employment contract”.