Ukrainian court freezes property of ex-president Poroshenko

[Budi]

Ukrainian court freezes property of ex-president Poroshenko


KYIV, UKRAINE -- A court in Ukraine has frozen the assets of former President Petro Poroshenko as part of an official investigation into alleged high treason by the former head of state, the Prosecutor General’s Office said.

Prosecutors suspect Poroshenko of involvement in financing Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014-2015 through the purchase of coal in the Donbas.

​​Ukraine faced an acute shortage of resources after separatists backed by Russia seized the territory on which the country’s main coal mines were located.

The authorities accused Viktor Medvedchuk, the leader of the pro-Russian party Opposition Platform - For Life, of conspiring with officials under the Poroshenko administration to purchase coal from mines in separatist-controlled areas in 2014-2015 as a way to finance the separatists. Russia has denied actively supporting the separatists.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is the godfather to Medvedchuk’s youngest daughter.

Poroshenko also previously was forced to sell two TV channels after the adoption of a law on oligarchs. The law, passed last year at Zelenskyy’s initiative, defines oligarchs as individuals who own significant financial assets and media outlets, and requires oligarchs to register as such.
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👍A BFD!

[crickets]

1. psst, linky?

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/ukrainian-court-freezes-property-president-poroshenko-82130508

Ukraine's anti-oligarch law is ...interesting. We certainly couldn't call it that or force people to register, but something with similar aims wouldn't be such a bad idea around here. Perhaps overturning/overhauling Citizens United would be a nice start.

https://www.euronews.com/2021/09/23/ukraine-s-parliament-passes-law-to-limit-oligarchs-influence-on-politics

The bill requires Ukrainian citizens to register as oligarchs if they own significant financial assets and media outlets. The law also requires senior state officials to declare any dealings with oligarchs. [snip]

According to the Ukrainian parliament, the new law aims to prevent "threats to national security related to the excessive influence of persons of significant economic and political importance in public life".

"The purpose of this law is to overcome the conflict of interests caused by the merger of politicians, media and big business."

Earlier this year, President Zelensky announced a campaign against corrupt businessmen, who are long accused of exploiting Ukraine's economy and buying the votes of the media and the political class.

[Budi]

2. Thanks. Apologies for omitting the link.

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