Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office has announced that it suspects Ukrainian businessman Serhiy Kurchenko of committing fraudulent operations with liquefied gas during the presidency of Viktor Yanukovych.

The Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine has drawn up a report which says that Kurchenko is suspected of committing grievous crimes as the head of a criminal group in 2010 and early 2014 in the area of business operations with liquefied gas, the public and media relations department of the PGO said.

In particular, during this period Kurchenko headed an organized criminal group through which he arranged the illegal seizure of state-owned liquefied gas produced by PJSC Ukrgazvydobuvannia and PJSC Ukrnafta and worth UAH 2.2 mln. The liquefied gas was bought at specialized auctions at understated price, allegedly to provide for the needs of the public. Then, this liquefied gas was sold to Kurchenko-controlled business entities at market prices.

As a result of these actions, the state suffered damage totaling more than UAH 2 billion.

Kurchenko has been put on the international wanted list.

His property and other assets totaling over UAH 2.8 billion have been arrested. The pretrial investigation is underway.