The Supreme Anti-Corruption Court (SAC) ruled on the absence of a preventive measure for Maksym Nemchynov, adviser to the Minister of Energy Herman Galushchenko, who previously held the position of Deputy Minister of Energy. This decision was made against the background of the investigation of corruption schemes in the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine.
This was reported by journalist Oleg Novikov. He noted:
- the decision was made by the investigative judge of VACS Larisa Zadorozhna;
- "it seems that she recognized the suspicion as unfounded";
- its decision has already been appealed to the Chamber of Appeals of the VAKS.
"NABU and SAP suspect Nemchynov and ex-Nardeput Volodymyr Vecherko of organizing abuses of almost UAH 12 million during the sale of coal. Together with them, the ex-director of the state-owned enterprise "Ukrvugilya" Vitaly Zyuzka is also suspected," the report says.
The journalist noted: according to the version of the investigation, at the end of July 2022 "the coal market in Ukraine was limited due to military operations." Therefore, in order to ensure a stable passage of the 2022/2023 heating season, the Cabinet of Ministers obliged "Ukrvugil" to supply energy carriers only to certain electricity producers - in particular, the state-owned PJSC "Centrenergo".
"Despite these restrictions, Vecherko (the owner of Interbis LLC) in collusion with Nemchynov convinced Zyuzko to sell coal to his company, which, by the way, owed more than UAH 50 million to the Ukrvugilya State Enterprise." As a result, Ukrvugillia supplied the private company with almost 24,000 tons of raw materials, which it resold with a profit of almost UAH 20 million. At the same time, "Centrenergo" did not receive 12.5 thousand tons of coal and was forced to buy it in October 2022 at a much higher price, overpaying almost UAH 12 million," Novikov said.
Maksym Nemchynov worked in the field of energy for 20 years. He held various positions in the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine, including state secretary, deputy minister and advisor to the minister. Nemchynov was deputy minister from July 2020 to December 2021. In this position, he worked on the development of the Concept of reforming the coal industry.
Volodymyr Vecherko was a People's Deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of the 7th convocation and entered the parliament on the lists of the "Party of Regions". This was his third and last term as a People's Deputy, as this term was dissolved in the summer of 2014. At one time, Vecherko was the first deputy chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Construction, Urban Planning, Housing and Regional Policy.
Vitaly Zyuzko became the head of "Ukrvugil" in July 2022.
