Ukrainian Security Service searching HQ of largest national gas producer
The Ukrainian Security Service is conducting a search at the headquarters of Ukrgazvydobuvannia, the largest Ukrainian gas company, located in Kyiv, the company's press service has told Interfax-Ukraine.
"We are being searched. The Security Service together with the Alpha [task force], about 50 people, came in the morning, there have been a 'mask show' and stuff, and they have fully blockaded the office," Ukrgazvydobuvannia Head Oleh Prokhorenko said at a government meeting in Kyiv on Wednesday, at which he presented an action plan to increase gas production in Ukraine.
Prokhorenko said the search prevented him from printing out demonstration materials for the government members.
"It's no big deal. After all, you don't fear anything, do you?" Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said, addressing Prokhorenko.
"No. We have nothing to hide. We are working in a routine manner," Prokhorenko replied.
"That's good, and that's right," Groysman said.
As reported, the Prosecutor General's Office had conducted searches at four of Ukrgazvydobuvannia's branches in February to seize documents concerning the company's relations with its equipment suppliers in 2014-2015.
Ukrainian Security Service spokesperson Olena Hitlianska told Interfax-Ukraine "the Security Service is conducting a search at the Ukrgazvydobuvannia headquarters in keeping with a request by the Prosecutor General's Office, which is conducting a criminal investigation."
The Prosecutor General's Office refrained from telling Interfax-Ukraine within the framework of what criminal proceedings it was conducting the search at the Ukrgazvydobuvannia office.
Naftogaz Ukrainy, which wholly owns Ukrgazvydobuvannia, suggested in commenting on the search on its Facebook account that the searches could have been prompted by debates at the government on stepping up gas production and the first meeting of Naftogaz's new monitoring board scheduled for Wednesday.
Ukrgazvydobuvannia, which is wholly owned by Naftogaz Ukrainy, is Ukraine's largest gas producer, accounting for about 75% of the overall gas production in the country. It also operates Shebelynka gas refinery.
