KHARKIV – Searches conducted at JSC Investor, a company owned by Arsen Avakov, the former head of Kharkiv Regional State Administration and the leader of the Kharkiv regional branch of the Batkivschyna Party, are related to his political activities, the company's acting head, Maryna Yepyshyna, has said.
“I think that this is related to his political activities and the
fact that he was placed 22nd on the list [of the united opposition].
They are currently tearing us apart. I have worked in this company for
21 years as head in various areas, and there has never been pressure
like this… I think they have already swallowed us – we are in the gullet
or they are still chewing us,” she told reporters late on Wednesday
after the end of the searches, which began at around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 28.
She said that the searches had been conducted with numerous
violations. In particular, witnesses were not present in all rooms where
they were searched, and one of the witnesses left before the end of
investigative actions, she said.
“We have signed a protocol with remarks, and are planning to file respective complaints,” Yepyshyna said.
She noted that investigators had seized the documents of not only
those companies that were mentioned in a resolution, but also those of
other companies.
“They have seized our stamps, statutory documents and the server of accountants,” she said.
She confirmed that the servers of the Glavnoe newspaper had been seized and that its publication was threatened with disruption.
