President Volodymyr Zelenskyy extended sanctions against oligarch Dmytro Firtash and associates of former People's Deputy Viktor Medvedchuk.
The head of state announced this in Telegram on February 2.
“First: we continue sanctions against former oligarch Dmitry Firtash and, within the framework of synchronization, we apply sanctions against his close circle and the company controlled by him. All entities that are associated with Russia and its structures deserve to be blocked,” Zelensky said.
In addition, the president extended sanctions against one of billionaire Viktor Medvedchuk's closest associates, namely former People's Deputy Taras Kozak, who is also suspected of treason, and eight companies associated with him.
“Long before the start of full-scale Russian aggression, these individuals chose Russia for themselves, and therefore war. We will continue to oppose every such entity,” he added.
What is known about Viktor Medvedchuk and Taras Kozak?
People's Deputy from the now banned “Opposition Platform – For Life” Viktor Medvedchuk was a defendant in a treason case, as a result of which the court sent him under house arrest in October 2021. On February 27, 2022, it became known that after the Russian invasion, Medvedchuk escaped from house arrest.
On April 12, 2022, Zelensky announced Medvedchuk's detention and posted a photo of him in handcuffs and military uniform. He later offered to exchange Medvedchuk for Ukrainians held captive by Russia. Medvedchuk later turned to Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin to exchange him for the defenders of Mariupol and civilians trapped in the city.
On September 21, 2022, it became known that negotiations were underway to exchange prisoners according to the formula of 1 Ukrainian for 4 Russians, and, according to media reports, Medvedchuk, the godfather of Russian President Vladimir Putin, could be on the exchange lists. In September, Medvedchuk was exchanged for 200 Ukrainian defenders who were in Russian captivity.
Another person involved in the treason case was People's Deputy from the People's Party of Ukraine and Medvedchuk's associate Taras Kozak. On July 13, 2021, the Pecherskyi District Court seized the property of the People's Deputy, who had previously managed to leave the country. Earlier, on February 2, 2021, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy enacted a decision of the National Security and Defense Council to impose sanctions against People's Deputy Taras Kozak.
Medvedchuk's associate Taras Kozak is in the treason case. On July 13, 2021, the Pecherskyi District Court seized his property, which had previously left the country. Earlier, on February 2, 2021, Zelenskyy enacted the NSDC decision to impose sanctions against Kozak.
On January 10, 2023, Zelensky stripped politicians Andriy Derkach, Taras Kozak, Renat Kuzmin, and Viktor Medvedchuk of their Ukrainian citizenship.
What is known about Dmitry Firtash?
Dmytro Firtash is one of the Ukrainian businessmen who is linked to numerous corruption schemes and Russian capital.
Firtash was arrested in Austria in 2014 at the request of the FBI on suspicion of bribery. In 2019, a federal court in Chicago rejected Firtash's motion to dismiss the charges, stating that the case fell under US jurisdiction.
The National Security and Defense Council imposed sanctions against the oligarch in the summer of 2021. According to former NSDC Secretary Alexei Danilov, this is due to his participation in the titanium business, in particular the supply of raw materials to Russia.
But in December 2024, 10 years after his arrest, an Austrian court ruled that Ukrainian businessman Dmytro Firtash could not be extradited to the United States as part of a lengthy trial related to corruption charges.