SBI checking Medvedchuk's involvement in Russian diesel fuel imports at reduced prices

"Employees of the SBI's territorial directorate in Mykolaiv are checking information on the delivery of diesel fuel from Russia to Ukraine at reduced prices by entities affiliated with Ukrainian MP Viktor Medvedchuk," the report reads.

According to the investigation, a foreign ship flying the flag of Panama arrived at a Mykolaiv seaport terminal in early October. A few days later, the same terminal received another foreign vessel flying the flag of an EU country.

"According to the documents, each vessel delivered oil products weighing more than 30,000 tonnes to a Ukrainian limited liability company associated with the people's deputy," the SBI said.

The preliminary investigation established that the vessels had entered Russian ports in the last year and that the goods were produced in Russia.

In addition, the price declared by suppliers was almost twice lower than the market price, which allowed dealers to minimize the payment of mandatory customs duties worth millions of hryvnias.

As part of criminal proceedings launched under Part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (abuse of power or office), SBI employees and experts from the regional chamber of commerce and industry and the State Customs Service again inspected the detained vessels and the goods declared for customs clearance.

During the inspections, fuel samples were taken and sent for research to confirm the declared quality and the code of the Ukrainian classification of goods of foreign economic activity.

"Based on the results of the examination, SBI investigators will take appropriate procedural action. The possible involvement of officials and the issue of bringing them to justice will also be checked during the investigation," the SBI said.

op