NABU probes money laundering by ex-Vice PM Chernyshov

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office are investigating an alleged scheme to launder funds obtained through criminal means by former Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of National Unity Oleksiy Chernyshov.

This is reported by the media, citing sources in anti-corruption agencies, and is confirmed by court case materials.

As is known, NABU and SAPO reported on suspicion of Chernyshov in receiving illegal benefits and abuse of office. After that, Bihus.info journalists established that Chernyshov and his wife are involved in the construction of a cottage town in Kozyn, Kyiv region. Based on the indicated facts, NABU detectives launched an investigation into the alleged legalization of funds obtained by criminal means.

On September 25, NABU detectives searched the office space used by Chernyshov. They seized his tablet and hard drives.

The investigation is verifying that Chernyshov and his wife Svitlana, through the controlled LLC "BLOOM DEVELOPMENT" and the service cooperative "Housing and Construction Cooperative "Sunny Beach", acquired real estate in the form of land plots and houses in Kozyn, thereby possibly committing a crime under Part 3 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. At the beginning of 2019, Chernyshov was a co-founder of LLC "BLOOM DEVELOPMENT", and then ceded his share in the authorized capital to his wife.

Subsequently, according to law enforcement agencies, the construction and erection of houses on these sites were carried out by persons associated with Chernyshov, in whose names he issued powers of attorney to represent his own interests.

Detectives note that the total income of the Chernyshovs for the period 2019-2024 is UAH 106,047,005. Thus, according to a preliminary assessment by law enforcement agencies, the difference between the official total income of the couple and the cost of one house with repairs is UAH 410,991,745, which, according to paragraph 2 of the note to Part 3 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, is a particularly large amount.

Oleksiy Chernyshov is a suspect in the EBK database.

Previously, the Appellate Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court seized funds seized during searches of former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Unity Oleksiy Chernyshov and his wife Svitlana in the context of a case of abuse and receiving unlawful benefits.