European Solidarity demands proper response from president to Mindich's case, initiates govt resignation
The European Solidarity Party declares its demand for a clear and effective response from the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the events surrounding the searches of the co-owner of the Kvartal 95 studio, Tymur Mindich, and declares that it is initiating procedures for the resignation of the current Cabinet of Ministers in connection with them.
“European Solidarity demands a clear and effective response to today's events, which amount to treason, from the President. Otherwise, we will lose the trust of our partners, international support, without which Ukraine is doomed. The trust of our international partners, who support Ukraine militarily and financially. The trust of Ukrainians, who hold this country on their own shoulders. We will not allow this," the statement published on the political force's website on Monday evening reads.
The party emphasized that they demand "a change in policy - the formation of a government of trust and responsibility."
"We are beginning the procedure for the resignation of the government - unprofessional and corrupt. Our goal is state governance, the unity of society, and the trust of partners. We call on all colleagues in parliament who are aware of the threats to the state to sign the resignation of the Cabinet of Ministers for the sake of forming a government of national salvation," the statement says.
Commenting on the Mindich case, the political party noted that "when millions of Ukrainians were left without electricity during shelling, when the best were dying every day at the front, another "battery" was working in the rear - the one that charged the pockets of the chosen ones. One hundred million dollars that could have gone to protect the energy infrastructure turned up in Energoatom's schemes."
The party claims that Mindich "has influence over the only telethon, controlled cash flows from Centerenergo to the State Property Fund, was engaged in the diamond business in Russia, and even "built" fortifications through his contractor Pronin," and that "Ukraine has never seen so many cash flows in one hand."
"And we have a question: how did it happen that Mindich was able to leave the country, when opposition deputies are not even allowed to attend international meetings where we ask partners to help restore Ukraine's energy system?", the statement emphasizes.
As reported, NABU and SAPO announced on November 10 a large-scale operation to expose corruption in the energy sector, which was called "Midas". The activities of a high-level criminal organization were documented, the participants of which built a large-scale corruption scheme to influence strategic state-sector enterprises, in particular JSC NNEGC Energoatom. "Energoatom confirmed the conduct of investigative actions at the company on November 10.
Among those identified by NABU as participants in the large-scale energy sector corruption scheme, codenamed "Midas," are Serhiy Pushkar, a member of the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission (NEURC); businessman Tymur Mindich; former Executive Director for Physical Protection and Security at Energoatom, Dmytro Basov; and former adviser to the Minister of Energy, Ihor Myroniuk.
The main activity of the criminal organization, according to the NABU/SAPO, was the systematic receipt of illegal benefits from Energoatom's counterparties in the amount of 10% to 15% of the value of contracts. In particular, Energoatom's counterparties were imposed conditions of paying a "kickback" for avoiding blocking payments for services provided/products delivered or deprivation of supplier status. Using official connections in the ministry and the state-owned company, in particular, the former deputy head of the State Property Fund of Ukraine, who later became an advisor to the Minister of Energy, as well as a former law enforcement officer who held the position of executive director for physical protection and security of Energoatom, ensured control over personnel decisions, procurement processes and the movement of financial flows.
Before that, information appeared about the NABU searches of Mindich on the morning of November 10, and MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak (Holos faction) reported that he left Ukraine right before the searches and "will be hiding in Israel and Austria." He also reported on the searches of Minister of Justice Herman Haluschenko and JSC NNEGC Energoatom. According to the MP, "Mindich, Herman, Energoatom - all in one of our investigations and in one application to NABU."
On November 6, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported that it had begun verifying information made public and submitted to it by Zhelezniak regarding Mindich's alleged diamond mining and sales business in the Russian Federation during the full-scale war. Zhelezniak noted that "Mindich has already assembled a trio: the FBI, NABU, and SBU."