Former Ukrainian Prime Minister and Batkivschyna Party leader Yulia Tymoshenko has said that the government's intention to privatize a portion of Ukraine's state oil and gas company Naftogaz is a crime.
"I think that a real corruption scandal is brewing in Ukraine," she said at a briefing at the Zhuliany Airport on Friday, after returning from Brussels.
"The fact that they are currently planning to take control of some of the [company’s] shares and pay almost nothing for them is definitely a crime," she said.
Tymoshenko said that this was linked to the government’s intentions to "partially privatize in the shadows" the country’s gas transport system, as well as gas storage facilities and entire gas production.
"Unfortunately, people don’t know that today Naftogaz Ukraine has no price, i.e. it is invaluable," she said.
In her opinion, if Ukraine decided today "to build a similar system from scratch, it would cost over $150 billion."
She said that the issue will affect not only Ukraine but the energy security of other countries, including the EU nations that are getting natural gas via the Ukrainian gas transport system.
Tymoshenko said she would keep a keen eye on the situation around Naftogaz.
As reported, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych earlier said he did not rule out that a portion of Naftogaz could be sold.
