Ukraine police find 42 kg of gold in home of ex-energy minister

[okaawhatever]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Ukrainian police have seized 42 kilograms of gold and $4.8 million in cash during a search of the apartments of Ukraine's former Energy Minister Eduard Stavytsky, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said on Saturday.

Avakov said the searches had been conducted in connection with a corruption investigation in the energy sector.

"It blew my mind when I received a report on the results this morning. How much would one have to steal, to have such a 'trifle' at home as pocket money," Avakov said in a post on Facebook.

Stavytsky's career blossomed under the presidency of ousted Viktor Yanukovich and was appointed energy minister in December 2012.

Ukrainian media describe Stavytsky as a member of Yanukovich's inner circle. He could not be reached for comment.

Continued at link:

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/22/us-ukraine-crisis-corruption-idUSBREA2L0F120140322

[truthisfreedom]

1. 2+ million in gold

[okaawhatever]

16. Plus almost $5 million in cash. Can you imagine what he has in some offshore bank? nt

[dotymed]

17. In the poor country of Ukraine.

Just imagine the amount of theft by American politicians.

[okaawhatever]

18. They two aren't comparable. The US doesn't come anywhere near the former Soviet countries in

terms of graft.

[hunter]

20. Here in the U.S.A. we are simply more sophisticated about it.

Corporate boards, tax lawyers, bankers, and clever accountants make it all "legal."

But it's still "graft," it's still connected people stealing money from the 99%, still a kleptocracy.

[Spider Jerusalem]

22. $1.8 million at current prices.

42kg=1350.33136 troy oz * $1330/oz at current rates = $1,795,940.

[Bette Noir]

2. Kleptocracy at its finest.

Was he part of the elected regime recently overthrown, or otherwise?

[okaawhatever]

4. He was appointed by the recently overthrown Yanukovych and was considered part of his inner

circle.

[Sunlei]

3. This is one of the 'embezzlers' who ran off to Russia?, Putin was probably in on that gravy train.

[Ikonoklast]

13. The Boss always gets his cut. Always.

Pootie-Poot is just another gangster, like all his thieving pals that run that country.

[DeSwiss]

5. So that where the petty cash box was.

- K&R

[OKNancy]

6. glad it was recovered. Good riddance to the thieves. n/t

[MNBrewer]

7. It was probably planted by Svoboda to make the previous government look bad

Just wait. SOMEONE will say that seriously.

[Adrahil]

8. But it's OK, because they weren't fascists....

[pscot]

9. Bah! Chump change

You'd get more than that out of David Koch's couch cushions.

[stevenleser]

10. It's just one of the cabinet ministers. What's that compared to a non-descript member of Svoboda

who assaulted a TV person. Even though the new President and Prime minister of Ukraine roundly condemned the Svoboda incident, it still means Yanukovych the thief and his thieving ministers and Russia are good and Ukraine and its new government are bad.

in case it is necessary

[mahannah]

11. Where does the money go now?

[okaawhatever]

15. Probably back to the Dept of Energy, but somehow back to the Gov't. I hope they don't need to

keep it for evidence in a trial, the gov't needs all the money they can get to help with their budget.

[DallasNE]

12. That's Putin's Buddy For You

Everything about Putin reeks of corruption so what could one expect from an ally.

[applegrove]

14. I truly believe all sorts of Russian

inspired corruption is what originally scuttled the deal with the EU in the fall. And I'm sure it was sanctioned somehow by Putin. Glad they are hunting for all the missing money.

[dipsydoodle]

23. What actually scuttled the late November talks

was the EU offering only $1 billion in aid despite it being clear Ukraine need $8 billion to get them through to the autumn. That was increased to $2 billion a couple of days ago.

The above is a simple matter of record.

[applegrove]

24. I'm saying I would not be surprised if Putin encouraged corruption to the extent

Last edited Mon Mar 24, 2014, 08:07 PM - Edit history (1)

the Ukrainian debt rose astronomically. You know...race the country into the ground knowing the Europeans would insist on some form of austerity. I read it was $20 Billion the Ukrainians needed and only $9 or 10 Billion the EU was offering. The Russians offered a bit more plus discounted prices on fuel from their pipelines to the tune of another $7 Billion. Making the Ukrainians forced to go there and join with Russia. The same as Ronnie Reagan did when he upped the arms race and ran the Soviet Union into the ground. Or what George W. Bush did when he gave tax cuts to the rich to force a higher debt and the resulting austerity and cuts in social programs the GOP hoped it would force Bush's successor to enact. After all the amount of Ukraine money stolen by corruption has to go somewhere. I doubt it would be put in the West. Some of it must be in Russia. I'm sure Putin would know part of it.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

19. But the protesters on the Maidan had nothing really to protest.

And they should have kept their yappers shut until Yanokovych's next election.

of course

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

21. That gold was...

...earmarked for dental work. What are those toothless people to do?