Naftogaz ex-CEO comments on embezzlement charges

He announced this on Facebook, reports Ukrinform.

"A brief comment on the news about the charges. Understanding that they were being drafted when I was abroad, I immediately returned to Ukraine, so as not to give grounds for accusations that I ran away or was hiding somewhere," said the former chief of Naftogaz.

As reported, on January 19, NABU and SAPO formally pressed charges against the former Chairman of the Board of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine over the alleged embezzlement of more than UAH 229 million in 2018. According to the inquiry, this money was paid to Kobolev from the company budget for extraordinary achievements.

At that time, the amount significantly exceeded the legally defined amounts of such payments. The law enforcement officials qualified the actions under Part 5 of Art. 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.