Ihor Kolomoisky is to remain in custody for an additional two months; however, the bail amount has been reduced 2024
Kyiv’s Shevchenkivskyi District Court has extended the detention of businessman Ihor Kolomoisky for another two months while reducing his bail amount from 2.65 billion hryvnias ($69.4 million) to 2.4 billion hryvnias ($62.9 million), as reported by TSN.ua on Feb. 28.
Ihor Kolomoisky has been in pre-trial detention since Jan. 22, with the option of posting bail set at 2.65 billion hryvnias ($69.4 million) until March.
Following an appellate court ruling, the bail amount was reduced to 2.7 billion hryvnias ($70.7 million).
His detention was initially extended until January 26, 2024, by a court order issued on November 28. At that time, bail was set at 3.8 billion hryvnias ($99.6 million), which Kolomoisky has refused to pay to secure his release.
Ihor Kolomoisky cedes famous 1+1 media network amid legal issues
Kyiv’s Shevchenkivskyi District Court implemented a preventive measure against Ihor Kolomoisky on Sept. 2, remanding him into custody for 60 days in Dnipro, with the initial option to post bail set at over 509 million hryvnias ($13.1 million). Subsequently, this bail amount was raised.
On Sept. 7, Ihor Kolomoisky faced additional charges for allegedly embezzling over 9.2 billion hryvnias ($241.1 million) from PrivatBank, and on Sept. 15, he was accused of misappropriating 5.8 billion hryvnias ($151 million) illegally.
According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Kolomoisky is alleged to have laundered over half a billion hryvnias (over $13 billion) between 2013 and 2020 by transferring funds overseas using banks under his control.
In September 2023, the SBU, Financial Investigation Service (BEB), and Prosecutor General’s Office charged the oligarch with the legalization of property obtained through fraud.
During the court proceedings, the defense presented protocols to re-question prosecution witnesses, but it was discovered that these protocols had been tampered with.
Additionally, the court mandated that Kolomoisky undergo all necessary medical procedures.
Read more: Ihor Kolomoisky is to remain in custody for an additional two months; however, the bail amount has been reduced 2024
Who is ihor Kolomoisky
Ihor Valeriyovych Kolomoyskyi is a Ukrainian-born Israeli–Cypriot billionaire businessman who once wielded considerable influence as an oligarch in Ukraine. Here’s an overview of his background and activities:
- Business Ventures:
- In 1992, Kolomoyskyi co-founded PrivatBank and the associated Privat Group of companies, establishing a significant presence in Ukraine’s financial sector.
- Over time, he expanded his interests to include substantial media holdings.
- Political Career:
- From 2014 to 2016, Kolomoyskyi held the position of Governor of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, but his tenure was marked by controversy, ultimately leading to his dismissal by President Petro Poroshenko.
- His bank, PrivatBank, faced scrutiny and was eventually nationalized due to concerns about its financial stability.
- Influence on Ukrainian Politics:
- In 2019, Kolomoyskyi’s media resources and financial backing played a significant role in supporting Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s successful bid for the presidency, challenging Poroshenko’s leadership.
- Legal Issues:
- In 2020, he faced indictment in the United States for alleged involvement in bank fraud on a large scale.
- Subsequently, in 2021, Kolomoyskyi and his family were barred from entering the US amid accusations of corruption and undermining democratic principles in Ukraine.
- President Zelenskyy reportedly revoked Kolomoyskyi’s Ukrainian citizenship in 2022.
- Nationalization of Assets:
- As of 2022, certain assets belonging to Kolomoyskyi were seized by the Ukrainian government, citing their strategic importance in the face of the Russian invasion, notably including major gasoline companies.
- Recent Arrest:
- In 2023, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) detained Kolomoyskyi on charges of money laundering and fraud, leading to his pre-trial detention.
It’s worth noting the variations in transliterating his name into English, which include different spellings such as Igor or Ihor for his first name, and Kolomoyskyi, Kolomoysky, Kolomoisky, Kolomoiskiy, or Kolomoyskiy for his surname.
Sources:
