11:20 13.12.2016

NBU initiates criminal case against Bakhmatiuk, businessman seeking compromise

2 min read
NBU initiates criminal case against Bakhmatiuk, businessman seeking compromise

Prosecutor General's Office in Kyiv (PGO) has opened a criminal case over embezzlement on an especially large scale against possible unlawful actions of officials of insolvent VAB Bank and its owner Oleh Bakhmatiuk. The businessman denies the accusations, believes it a prearranged PR stunt of the head of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) and calls on the central bank to find a compromise to really return funds to depositors.

"The NBU welcomes the actions of PGO and hopes that soon criminal cases will be opened against other heads and owners of insolvent banks that violated law," the NBU said on Monday.

The criminal case was opened under an initiative of the NBU, and the investigation department of the National Police in Kyiv will carry out the pretrial investigation.

Bakhmatiuk told Interfax-Ukraine by phone that he believes that the new accusations are the continuation of the prearranged PR stunt by NBU Governor Valeriya Gontareva.

"She is absolutely not interested in finishing the conflict and returning the funds. Her goal is to liquidate the company [Ukrlandfarming with Avangard listed on the London Stock Exchange]," the businessman said.

He said that in two years law enforces, including the National Police, Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) investigated into a large number of criminal cases linked to VAB Bank, and it was established that Bakhmatiuk is not guilty.

"These cases are volumes of questioning and examinations. They proved that I am not guilty. Most of them have been closed. If the new case is opened, according to the criminal procedure code it is to be closed," Bakhmatiuk said.

The businessman said that he again proposed to the NBU to find a compromise for the real increase of payments under the bank's liabilities, but his proposals are left without response.

"The Individuals Deposit Guarantee Fund does not oppose these proposals. I would say that even the NBU does not oppose, but Gontareva opposes them," he said.

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