Kolomoisky, a Ukrainian businessman, was detained for two months

On Saturday, a Ukrainian court ordered businessman Ihor Kolomoisky, accused of fraud and money laundering, to be detained for two months, with an option to post bail of more than 509 million hryvnias and more than $13 million.

As Ukraine faces an 18-month-old Russian invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has launched a tough anti-corruption crackdown. By Zelensky’s campaign.

Zelensky denies having a personal relationship with Kolomoisky.

The Security Service of Ukraine said in a statement on Telegram: “In the period from 2013 to 2020, it has been confirmed that Ihor Kolomoisky legalized more than half a billion hryvnias ($14 million) by withdrawing them from abroad and using the banks he controlled. “

The agency posted pictures of a team of investigators at Kolomoisky’s door, and the businessman received and signed documents.

Kolomoisky is the former owner of Ukrainian bank “Privatbank”, which was nationalized by authorities in late 2016 as part of a major purge of the country’s banking system.

This year, security officials raided Kolomoisky’s home as part of a separate investigation into fraud and tax evasion at two of the country’s largest oil companies, in which he had two stakes.

Kolomoisky owned a group of assets in the energy, banking and other sectors, as well as one of the most influential television channels in Ukraine.

The United States imposed sanctions on Kolomoisky in 2021 for “involvement in massive corruption.” Zmirk officials also accused Kolomoisky and one of his accomplices of embezzling the stolen money through the United States. Kolomoski denies any wrongdoing.