Naftogaz denies NABU and SAP accusations of inaction on asset return to Ukraine

The return of assets to Ukraine requires a coordinated approach and synchronization of actions with all parties involved, NAK Naftogaz of Ukraine asserts in response to accusations from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO).

“Since the NABU request concerns the waiver of the plaintiff’s status in criminal proceedings, Naftogaz needs to coordinate its actions with state bodies to make a balanced decision and is currently making efforts to fulfill the NABU request,” Naftogaz said in a statement published on its website on Saturday.

The company adds that they work in cooperation with authorized ministries, departments and anti-corruption agencies on issues of asset return to Ukraine, and this is one of the key areas of their activity.

“Protection of national interests is a common task of all state authorities of Ukraine. Only unity and consistency of all parties involved can ensure the necessary result for the state,” Naftogaz concluded.

The previous evening, NABU and SAP stated that the inaction of the management of NAK Naftogaz of Ukraine could result in the loss of UAH 1.6 billion, which could have been returned from abroad.

“Currently, for the first time in the history of Ukraine, there is a real opportunity to return UAH 1.6 billion from abroad. However, the destructive position of the acting head of NAK Naftogaz may lead to the loss of this opportunity, which is what anti-corruption agencies are actively working on,” law enforcement agencies said, without specifying details.

In February of this year, NABU Director Semen Krivonos announced the possibility of returning $39 million arrested in Switzerland. According to him, at that time, the position of the government and Naftogaz on this issue was important.