You're reading: Financial Times: Ukraine’s Firtash questioned over mafia ties

Roman Olearchyk and Neil Buckley wrote: "Dmitry Firtash, the Ukrainian businessman who was for years a key figure in the multi-billion dollar Russian natural gas trade to Ukraine and Europe, reportedly admitted ties to alleged organised crime bosses during talks with U.S. officials. According to diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks this week, Firtash told the U.S. ambassador to Kyiv in 2008 that he had sought permission from Semyon Mogilevich, who is on the FBI’s 10 most wanted list, when setting up some businesses."
According to the Financial Times report, Firtash’s Swiss-based holding company confirmed in a statement that he had a discussion with the U.S. Ambassador, but addded that Firtash would not discuss the private discussion. “Mr Firtash has stated many times, publicly, privately and on the record that he knew Mr Mogilevich but has never had any partnership or other commercial association with him,” the statement reads.

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