The Austrian prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation against the former head of the National Bank of Ukraine, Kirill Shevchenko, on suspicion of money laundering. writes about this RIA News Citing Agence France Presse.
In January 2023, Ukrainian publication Strana.ua reported that Shevchenko had applied for asylum with Austrian authorities, explaining this by political persecution in his homeland. According to the Austrian publication standard, the application still remains unconsidered.
In October 2022, Shevchenko resigned, citing health problems, and was later placed on the international wanted list and arrested in absentia on suspicion of embezzlement at Ukrgasbank. According to investigators, from 2014 to 2019, Ukrgasbank management signed 52 fictitious agreements with “agents” who allegedly lured large clients to the bank by transferring more than 206 million hryvnias (more than $5.5 million) in exchange for their “services”.
Among the five main suspects was the former chairman of the Central Bank, who served as chairman of the board of directors of Ukrgasbank at the time of the crime. Shevchenko said the charges against him were “politically motivated and artificially hastily constructed, without evidence and failed in an objective trial.” He was also accused of forming a criminal organization.
Media too Wrote Based on sources in banking circles, it was stated that Zelensky’s office was not satisfied with the increasing inflation in the country and the devaluation of the national currency. As the interlocutor said, the president’s office wants the NBU to print hryvnia, thereby helping to replenish the state budget, and they do not see any contradiction in these tasks. He stated that there were discussions in Zelensky’s office at first, but then they turned into a conflict.
Previously Ukraine’s international reserves decreased It increased by $2 billion in January.