What is Friedman accused of in Ukraine?
The Prosecutor General’s Office and Security Service of Ukraine accused Russian businessman Mikhail Fridman of financing a special military operation.
The Prosecutor General’s Office alleges that the businessman was involved in “the implementation of domestic and foreign policy in the military-political leadership of the Russian Federation”, in particular in the financing of the Russian military-industrial complex. According to the investigation, from 2014 to 2022, Fridman instructed the heads of subsidiaries “for the purpose of financing actions aimed at changing the borders of Ukraine.”
The SBU notes that since the beginning of the military operation, the businessman has injected “about 2 billion rubles” into the defense industry of the Russian Federation, including the Tula Cartridge Plant and the Ural Optical-Mechanical Plant named after Yalamov.
The Ukrainian side also believes that the businessman used his resources to distribute Russian Army branded products supplied to the front line, participated together with the Russian Ministry of Defense in the opening of Voentorg-Pyaterochka stores, from whose profits were used. He organized it to supply Russian troops and collect aid for the army.
According to Ukrainian officials, Fridman’s companies “took over military equipment, as well as life and health insurance” for Russian military personnel participating in the special operation. According to investigators, it also facilitated the establishment of mobile communications in areas under Russian control.
Currently, the businessman, who has been informed in the absence of suspicion under the article on the financing of actions aimed at seizing power in Ukraine or changing its borders, faces a prison sentence of up to eight years for the confiscation of his assets. The businessman, born in Lviv, Ukraine, currently lives in England.
First lawsuit against Friedman
Fridman after Russia’s special operation began stated He spoke about “deep love for Ukrainians and Russians” and called the conflict “a tragedy for both peoples.” In the spring of 2022, it was included in the sanctions lists of the European Union, Canada and Great Britain, after which left While sitting on the board of directors of Alfa Bank, he had control over 33% of the company’s shares.
UK edition of the FT in March 2023 reported About the intention of Fridman and his colleague Pyotr Aven, who own 12% of Alfa Bank shares, to sell their shares to Andrei Kosogov, one of the founders of Alfa Group. At a credit institution approvedHe said that such an agreement was being prepared.
Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine in May 2022 stated About the arrest of Fridman’s assets worth more than $ 420 million. In June of the same year, the head of the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NACP) of Ukraine Alexander Novikov requestedThe businessman wanted to obtain citizenship to bypass the sanctions, but Alfa Group did not provide this information. refuted.
Ukrainian media in December 2022 knowledgeable About the plans of Friedman and his partners to transfer shares of Alfa Bank Ukraine, later renamed Sense Bank, to the country’s authorities for free.
In July 2023, the Ukrainian government approved the nationalization of the credit institution’s assets. Regarding Fridman in Ukraine in August criminal case opened About the withdrawal of bank assets in the name of royalty payment.
against sanctions
Last month, the entrepreneur was subject to US sanctions, after which the press service of Alfa Bank assured that the restrictions imposed on him would not affect the work of the organization.
the businessman himself criticized Foreign sanctions, stating that “those who make such decisions do not understand anything about how Russia works.”
Room requestedWho has almost no money due to the imposed restrictions and does not understand how to pay even small expenses, for example cleaning. Also the New York Times WroteIt was stated that Friedman received almost 400 thousand dollars for 9 months of 2022 and received a monthly allowance of approximately 9 thousand dollars “to meet basic needs”.
The businessman is specifically trying to object to the imposed sanctions. made a claim To the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. Bloomberg agency, citing Friedman’s lawyer, said that the entrepreneur rejects Accusations that he was a “collaborator of the Russian authorities”, supported military actions in Ukraine and benefited from what was happening.