Ukraine freezes $80 million of tycoon Kolomoisky’s assets, media report. Ihor Kolomoisky’s assets worth more than $80 million were reportedly frozen by Ukraine’s anti-corruption agency on Friday for 48 hours as part of an inquiry into possible theft.
Kolomoisky, one of the wealthiest people in Ukraine and an “oligarch,” was jailed last week on accusations of money laundering and is reportedly being investigated for embezzlement.
In response to written inquiries for comment about asset seizures, a lawyer representing Kolomoisky did not immediately reply. The tycoon’s attorneys have not addressed the embezzlement case. Kolomoisky has previously denied misconduct.
The previous owner of the lender PrivatBank’s assets were blocked, according to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), along with more than 1,600 cars and boats, approximately 1,000 properties, and more than 3 billion hryvnia in assets.
Kolomoisky was not mentioned in the NABU statement.
Kolomoisky was formerly the owner of PrivatBank, which the government of Ukraine took over in late 2016 as part of efforts to reform the country’s banking sector.
He is one of the businessmen who created their riches from the ruins of the Soviet Union and grew their political influence inside the precarious post-Soviet democracy of Ukraine.
The actions taken against him coincide with Kyiv’s efforts to show progress in a warfare campaign against corruption crucial to the country’s aspirations of joining the European Union.
Officials from Ukraine have also said that “de-oligarchization” is a crucial step in creating a stronger state after the conflict with Russia.
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