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  6.  » Ukrainian oligarch and Zelensky supporter Ihor Kolomoisky arrested in fraud investigation

Olga Voitovych, Josh Pennington, Pauline Lockwood and Heather Chen – CNN Sept 3, 2023

Ihor Kolomoisky

One of Ukraine’s most powerful oligarchs has been arrested in a fraud investigation, state media in the country are reporting.

A Kyiv court on Saturday ordered Ihor Kolomoisky, a key supporter of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s 2019 presidential campaign, to 60 days in pre-trial detention while authorities investigate fraud charges against him, reported Ukrinform.

Kolomoisky’s media and banking businesses have made him one of the richest men in Ukraine.

However, the US State Department has previously accused him of using his “political influence and power for personal benefit.”

The State Department sanctioned Kolomoisky in March 2021 for his alleged involvement in “corrupt acts that undermined rule of law and the Ukrainian public’s faith in their government’s democratic institutions and public processes.”

However, the US State Department has previously accused him of using his “political influence and power for personal benefit.”

The State Department sanctioned Kolomoisky in March 2021 for his alleged involvement in “corrupt acts that undermined rule of law and the Ukrainian public’s faith in their government’s democratic institutions and public processes.”

“If the businessman posts bail, he must fulfill a number of conditions – not leave the locality where he will be staying, appear for interrogations, and notify the relevant authorities of any change of residence, if any,” the Ukrinform report added.

“He is also prohibited from communicating with witnesses and other suspects in this criminal proceeding… and must also surrender his passports for traveling abroad.”

Kolomoisky is being investigated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) as well as Ukraine’s Bureau of Economic Security under Articles 190 and 209 – for fraud and laundering of a property criminally obtained.

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