Ukrainian former official faces fraud, hooliganism charges in Azerbaijan

Ukrainian former Deputy Minister of Industrial Policy Konstantin Kucher has been charged with fraud and hooliganism in Azerbaijan. 

Kucher faces charges under Articles 178.4 (large-scale fraud) and 221 (hooliganism) of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code. He is implicated in a case that also involves Ukrainian criminal figure Oleg Krapivin ("Oleg Bakinskiy"), Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The victims in the case are Russian citizen Valery Zakharenkov, as well as "Aviaparts" and "Industrial Supplies Kazakhstan" companies. Kucher served as the deputy minister of industrial policy of Ukraine from 2006 to 2007 and headed the Ukrainian Defense Industry company from 2010 to 2011.

Krapivin was apprehended by officers from the Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime of Azerbaijan’s Interior Ministry. The Narimanov district court has ordered his detention for a three-month period, although no specific charges have been disclosed against Krapivin. The Azerbaijani Interior Ministry has refrained from commenting on reports of his arrest. Krapivin, originally from Azerbaijan, was a successful freestyle wrestler, winning prestigious international tournaments, including European championships.

Later, he relocated to Ukraine, where he became involved in the activities of the Kyiv branch of the Congress of Azerbaijanis of Ukraine. However, he gained notoriety primarily as a criminal figure.

By Naila Huseynova