By KYIV. Dec 29 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Law enforcement officers reported suspicion to the entrepreneur, owner of one of the major alcohol holdings in Ukraine, Yevhen Cherniak, as well as six top managers of his companies. They are suspected of financing Russia’s armed aggression, the State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said.
“The security service has collected evidence on the owner of one of the largest alcohol holdings in Ukraine, Yevhen Cherniak, who is suspected of financing the armed aggression of Russia. According to the investigation, despite the full-scale invasion, his companies continued to do business with the aggressor country,” the SBU said in a statement in the Telegram channel on Friday evening.
It is reported that during 2022, only in the form of paying taxes and fees, enterprises controlled by Cherniak transferred about 6 billion in hryvnia equivalent to the budget of Russia. The investigation documented that the defendant’s enterprises, located in four countries of Central Asia and the South Caucasus, purchased industrial quantities of alcohol and other related products from Russia. During searches in the office premises of the holding company in Ukraine, documents and other material evidence of illegal activities in favor of the aggressor country were discovered.
“Based on the collected evidence, State Security Service investigators reported suspicion to Cherniak and six other top managers of his companies under Part 2 of Article 28, Article 111-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (aiding and abetting the aggressor state, committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons,” the SBU said.
Reportedly, the issue of seizing their private and corporate property for transfer to the management of ARMA is now being decided. The investigation was carried out under the procedural guidance of Kyiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office.
According to open sources, Cherniak, the founder of Khortytsia brand, is the head of the supervisory board of the Global Spirits alcohol holding.
