You're reading: Akhmetov tagged as suspect in attempted murder case

Law enforcement seek Ukraine's richest man for involvement in case dating back to 1988

pect in a shooting that occurred in the east of Ukraine almost 20 years ago.

The development signals apparent attempts by Ukraine’s new administration to shift its criminal investigations into higher gear, especially those involving prominent – and once considered untouchable – political opponents who allegedly committed crimes under the nation’s previous leadership.

Donetsk tycoon Rinat Akhmetov, who remains outside Ukraine at an unknown location, has denied involvement in the shooting through statements issued by his principle holding company, System Capital Management, and a law firm based in Washington D.C. that represents him.

In an interview published on July 20, one day after Akhmetov failed to show up for questioning at the Interior Ministry, Deputy Interior Minister Hennady Moskal said that a criminal case was likely to be launched soon in connection with an incident in Donetsk dating back to 1988. During the incident, an alleged crime figure nicknamed Botsman was shot, but survived. Botsman, a.k.a. Serhiy Chernyshev, now resides in Moscow.

Citing Moskal, Kyiv-based Internet publication Glavred.info reported that Akhmetov has been fingered as the suspect in the shooting. Moskal’s words confirm news reports, spread Ukrainian media in recent days, citing informed sources linking Akhmetov to the crime.

Possible end-game

Moskal said law enforcement officials leaked the information on purpose, without naming Chernyshev as the victim, just to see how Akhmetov would respond.

The intention was apparently to corner Akhmetov.

“Then events unfolded just as we expected,” Moskal said, adding that Akhmetov’s security services responded to the news leaks by contacting Chernyshev in Moscow and convincing him to issue a public statement alleging that Akhmetov was not to blame for the incident.

Chernyshev issued just such a statement on July 20. In the last few days the statement has been circulated to media outlets by Akhmetov’s SCM holding company and the Washington-based law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld.

“[Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld] interviewed and obtained a sworn statement from the alleged shooting victim – Sergey Mikhailovich Chernyshev, known by the nickname Botsman,” reads a statement sent to the Post by the firm on July 20.

“In his statement, Mr. Chernyshev attested that Mr. Akhmetov had no involvement of any kind in the attempt on his life in 1988,” the statement continues.

“Mr. Chernyshev further stated that while he knows of Mr. Akhmetov from media reports, he has never met him and he has no relationship of any kind with Mr. Akhmetov or any of his business activities. Moreover, Mr. Chernyshev testified that when investigators from the Office of the Prosecutor General in Kiev questioned him two weeks ago, he informed the investigators that Mr. Akhmetov played no role in the shooting incident.”

Moskal said the statements gave law enforcement just what they needed and expected.

“Now we have grounds to open a criminal case,” Moskal said.

“It’s not difficult to guess who’s fingered as the main suspect. It will be Ukraine’s richest man, of course. As far as evidence and witnesses go, we have enough,” he added.

It remains unclear where Akhmetov currently resides and how Ukrainian authorities will detain him, if they can.

Meanwhile, Akhmetov’s lawyers in Washington insist the investigation into their client is politically motivated and “troubling” and “clearly suggests that these law enforcement officers are … not really seeking to solve a violent crime.”

“During the past six months, Mr. Akhmetov’s business and financial holdings have been under continued attack by the government of Ukraine. Mr. Akhmetov was an active supporter of Viktor Yanukovych, the unsuccessful candidate for president of Ukraine in the 2004 elections,” reads the July 20 statement circulated by Akin Gump.

Witch hunt?

Weeks earlier, a senior Interior Ministry official told journalists he suspected Akhmetov of being the leader of an organized crime group.

Akhmetov’s business empire controls steel mills, a telecommunications firm, machine-building plants and other businesses cumulatively valued at more than $3 billion according to Poland’s Wprost magazine.

In recent months, law enforcement officials appear to have been inching closer to Akhmetov and other individuals with influence under the previous regime by investigating and questioning their lower-level associates. All were allies of former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma and presidential contender Viktor Yanukovych.

Earlier this year, Ukrainian law enforcement officials arrested Donetsk oblast council chairman Boris Kolesnikov, a close associate of Akhmetov. Kolesnikov, who remains in custody and faces charges of extortion, served as a top manager at companies controlled by Akhmetov. Both men supported Yanukovych’s candidacy in last year’s presidential elections.

Viktor Medvedchuk, who served as Presidential Administration chief in Kuchma’s last years in office, was also asked to appear at the Interior Ministry for questioning several days ago. Like Akhmetov, Medvedchuk is currently out of the country and failed to appear for questioning.

Since President Viktor Yushchenko took the oath of office in January, many other individuals have been sought for questioning, among them former Presidential Affairs head Ihor Bakai, who currently resides in Russia, and even Yanukovych himself. Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly appealed to Russia to detain and extradite Bakai and other individuals to Ukraine.

During his election campaign, Yushchenko pledged to cut down on corruption, regularly repeating the slogan, “Bandits belong in jail.” His opponents and some analysts have alleged that the investigations are being used as pressure tactics against political rivals ahead of the March 2006 parliamentary elections.

Vadym Karasiov, a Kyiv-based political analyst, said the investigations of Akhmetov and Medvedchuk pose huge implications for Ukraine’s political and business scenes.

“Akhmetov is the shadow leader of the so-called Donetsk political-business clan, which became very influential in recent years due to its abundant financial resources,” Karasiov said, adding that it is no secret that Ukraine’s elite has in the past been closely tied to organized crime groups.

“His arrest would bring an end to this group, at least temporarily, but I don’t expect the new administration to arrest him at this point.

“For now this investigation is a warning to Akhmetov and his political-business grouping, which can challenge the new administration in the parliamentary elections. His arrest is more likely to come early next year, just ahead of the elections,” Karasiov added.

Weighing the dangers

Some wonder if Ukraine’s law enforcement officials and investigators may face retaliation from the crime groups under investigation.

Karasiov said such investigations could be dangerous, particularly to the investigators themselves.

“I don’t think high-ranking political officials are so much in danger of being threatened by criminal groups… Rather, the dangers will be faced by lower-level investigators involved in hands-on investigating, as well as witnesses,” he added.

But Karasiov points out that Akhmetov and Medvedchuk are more likely to hide and avoid arrest than threaten investigators or witnesses. While in hiding, they could wait for the results of the parliamentary elections and possibly return to Ukraine after they’re over.

“It could be a whole different ball game in Ukraine after the March elections,” Karasiov said, depending on which political forces get the upper hand.