Ukraine submits Interpol request for suspects in energy corruption probe

Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) have submitted materials to Interpol requesting that businessmen Tymur Mindich and Oleksandr Zuckerman be placed on an international wanted list, SAPO head Oleksandr Klymenko said.

Speaking to journalists, Klymenko confirmed that the documents had been sent to Interpol but noted that there is currently no confirmation that a so-called red notice has been issued. He added that Interpol is not required to publicly disclose such information on its website, Caliber.Az reports per Ukrainian media. 

The move follows the announcement in November by NABU and SAPO that they had uncovered a large-scale corruption scheme in Ukraine’s energy sector. Investigators allege that the scheme involved systematic money laundering and illicit enrichment by senior officials and business figures.

According to law enforcement authorities, the alleged organiser of the scheme was businessman Tymur Mindich, former business partner of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Another suspect is 61-year-old businessman Oleksandr Zuckerman, who investigators say has left Ukraine.

Prosecutors believe Zuckerman acted as a co-organiser of the corruption scheme alongside Mindich and was part of a so-called “back office” structure used to launder illicit funds.

By Sabina Mammadli