Opposition demands prosecutors investigate transfer of Ukrainian gas distribution networks to businesses

The Batkivschyna United Opposition has demanded that the Prosecutor General's Office investigate the corrupt connections of companies that obtained Ukrainian gas distribution networks from the government.

"The Batkivschyna United Opposition has prepared and submitted an appeal to the Prosecutor General's Office demanding that it immediately stop this decision and open a criminal case on large-scale corruption that was documented by this resolution," the head of the central headquarters of the united opposition, Oleksandr Turchynov, said at a press conference on Wednesday, Aug. 22.

"We are demanding [that the Prosecutor General’s Office] investigate corrupt connections that led to the adoption of this resolution and investigate the corrupt connections of those who took this resolution and those for whom it was taken," he said.

"We understand what the reaction of the Prosecutor General's Office will be like... Unfortunately, we can predict that they will open no criminal cases, because the Prosecutor General’s Office is currently servicing the interests of corrupt officials, rather than fighting corruption," Turchynov said.

He said that all those involved in this case would be called to account for the adoption of this decision.

Turchynov recalled that the government approved a resolution on August 20 this year permitting the use of gas distribution networks by companies that control regional gas supply companies.

"Strategic facilities have been transferred to full economic control and use by businessmen from the entourage of [Ukrainian President] Viktor Yanukovych for free. Such a gift costs Hr 45 billion. This is a gift to Dmytro Firtash and other sponsors of the Regions Party, as well as the presidential administration," the politician said.

"They are already not hiding the arrogant and cynical looting of their own country," he said.

Turchynov also said that the opposition had prepared a bill on the mechanism of natural gas supplies to the public, which says that all distribution networks should be only in state ownership.