Posted on 12/29/2004 10:25:55 AM PST by gabaseball
UKRAINIANJOURNAL.com
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2004
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As Kuchma confidants die suspiciously, another crony flees Ukraine
Journal Staff Report
KIEV, Dec. 28 Ihor Bakay, a close financial confidant of outgoing President Leonid Kuchma, fled Ukraine amid a range of suspicious deaths reported ahead of an anticipated change of power in Ukraine.
Bakay most recently handled finances for the Kuchma administration. He is thought to be one of the richest men in Ukraine and is believed to have made his fortune while leading Naftogaz Ukrayiny, the state oil and gas company, in 1998-2000.
The developments come as Heorhiy Kyrpa, the Transportation and Communications Minister and also a close confidant of Kuchma, was found dead Monday.
Kyrpa, who led UkrZaliznytsia, the state railroad monopoly with annual budget of several billions hryvnias, was alleged to have illegally financed campaign of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.
This is the fate for creditors of totalitarian regimes, the fate of creditors that have handled dishonest transactions, Petro Poroshenko, an opposition lawmaker, said Tuesday. I think it is not a coincidence that Bakay had hastily fled Ukraine.
The developments come as opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko won the presidential election in Ukraine in the Sunday vote, defeating Yanukovych, which marks a sweeping change of power in the country.
The Prosecutor General Office investigates whether Kyrpa has been led to commit the suicide.
The prosecutors also investigate whether another important financial manager, Yuriy Lyakh, the chairman of the Ukrayinskiy Kredytniy Bank (UKB), was led to the suicide earlier this month.
Lyakh was one of the closest business allies of Viktor Medvedchuk, the chief of staff at the Kuchma administration. Opposition lawmakers said that the Yanukovych campaign had a bank account at UKB.
We know that the money, including from the state budget, through certain businesses went to finance campaign of our opponent [Yanukovych], Poroshenko said.
The murder of Lyakh, who was the treasurer of a certain political group, is not a coincidence. I think this and Kyrpas suicide are parts of the same chain, Poroshenko said.
Opposition lawmakers alleged that UkrZaliznytsia had recently received a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, but the money had disappeared from its account.
This means that ten, or perhaps one hundred million either with [Kyrpas] agreement or not, were channeled through non transparent transactions, including to finance the election, Poroshenko said.
The Yanukovych campaign had repeatedly rejected allegations that it had illegally used any state money for the election. (jp/ez)
Hey where is Bill Clinton? He hasn't left the U.S. has he??
To end world terrorism and future Ukraine and American deaths, we need to put a GPS device on George Soros, Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton. GPS or leg irons....
Short leash would work better. The kind with a shock collar!! Even Better.
Russia had a problem with Ukraine under Kuchma, in that oil entering pipelines headed west across Ukraine, and oil coming out the other side, did not equal. Russian oil shipments had a way of disappearing in Ukraine.
This actually cost Ukraine a great deal, as it impacted plans for additional pipelines across the country.
It would not surprise me that Kuchma's administration has a number of accounting problems to be cleared up. People who know the details should be looking for a quiet place to retire before the cleanup crews get to them.
UN Oil for Food: The Saddam Oil Vouchers Affair - Ukraine: Neftogas - 8 million
Thanks; good catch.
How about an anchor?
The KGB is taking out the trash after the real election.
Have you ever noticed how you NEVER see Michael Moore and Ihor Bakay in the same room? HMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmm....
As Kuchma confidants die suspiciously,
another crony flees UkraineExcerpt:KIEV, Dec. 28 Ihor Bakay, a close financial confidant of outgoing President Leonid Kuchma, fled Ukraine amid a range of suspicious deaths reported ahead of an anticipated change of power in Ukraine.
Bakay most recently handled finances for the Kuchma administration. He is thought to be one of the richest men in Ukraine and is believed to have made his fortune while leading Naftogaz Ukrayiny, the state oil and gas company, in 1998-2000.
The developments come as Heorhiy Kyrpa, the Transportation and Communications Minister and also a close confidant of Kuchma, was found dead Monday.
Kyrpa, who led UkrZaliznytsia, the state railroad monopoly with annual budget of several billions hryvnias, was alleged to have illegally financed campaign of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.
This is the fate for creditors of totalitarian regimes, the fate of creditors that have handled dishonest transactions, Petro Poroshenko, an opposition lawmaker, said Tuesday. I think it is not a coincidence that Bakay had hastily fled Ukraine.
The developments come as opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko won the presidential election in Ukraine in the Sunday vote, defeating Yanukovych, which marks a sweeping change of power in the country.
The Prosecutor General Office investigates whether Kyrpa has been led to commit the suicide.
The prosecutors also investigate whether another important financial manager, Yuriy Lyakh, the chairman of the Ukrayinskiy Kredytniy Bank (UKB), was led to the suicide earlier this month.
Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Yushchenko vs. Yanukovych/Ukraine election ping list!. . .don't be shy.
The darkness continues. Thanks for the ping.
That's what I was thinking... Vince Foster
Thank you
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