The BRSM-Nafta filling station network believes that the ruling of Kyiv's Shevchenkivsky district court to permit raids at the company's facilities and arrest its property is unlawful, Director of Strategic Marketing Network at BRSM-Nafta Oleksandr Melnychuk said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Wednesday.

"Now we are preparing not only a counterclaim, but also an application to the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine and the High Council of Justice against actions of the judge… Raids and arrest of property actually paralyzed the operation of the company. This is a sign of a traditional illegal seizure: a court ruling written in haste – raids – property arrest – the stoppage of the company's operation," he said.

According to the company, during the raids officers of Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) and employees of the State Fiscal Service violated legislation and this will be also challenged in court.

"BRSM-Nafta is shocked with statements of PGO head Yuriy Lutsenko that the company's assets could be transferred for storage to the Energy and Coal Industry Ministry.

"We consider this as an extremely alarming signal for international investors who would be afraid of investing funds in the Ukrainian economy, as tomorrow their property could be nationalized and resold to the companies of illegal seizers," Melnychuk said.

According to BRSM-Nafta, at present, operations of 41 filling stations and one oil depot have been blocked.

On Tuesday Lutsenko announced large-scale raids at BRSM-Nafta's facilities and accused the company of tax evasion (around UAH 1 billion).