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.
