Media: the Ukrainian factories seized in the Donbas are managed by the former governor of Russia’s Irkutsk region
Ukrainian factories that have been seized by pro-Russian separatists are managed by Vneshtorgservis Company, headed by the former governor of the Irkutsk region, Vladimir Pashkov.
This was reported by the Russian magazine Kommersant. The publication notes that the leader of the so-called DPR, Alexander Zakharchenko signed a "decree" in which he appointed Vneshtorgservis as the "temporary administrator" of the seized Ukrainian enterprises.
The list of enterprises controlled by the Russian company includes Donetsksteel Iron and Steel Works, Yenakiieve and Makiivka Iron and Steel Works, Yenakiieve Coke and Chemicals Plant, Yasinovka Coke Plant, Makiivkoks, and Khartsyzsk Tube Works.
"None of the documents of the self-proclaimed republics indicate who is heading this company and to whom it belongs," the newspaper writes. However, on March 20, a message from the Krasnodonsk territorial organization of the trade union of workers of the coal industry of the local Krasnodonugol Company said that coal companies and metallurgical plants would join Vneshtorgservis.
"A proposal has been made to build a vertically integrated company that will operate in LPR (Luhansk People’s Republic) and DPR (Donetsk People’s Republic) territory. The General Director of the company is Vladimir Pashkov," the newspaper reports.
The s-called Minister of Industry and Trade of the Donetsk People's Republic, Alexey Granovsky confirmed to the Russian newspaper that Vneshtorgservis is being headed by Pashkov.
"Before that, he was an adviser to the head of the republic on economic issues. His true patron will not be disclosed in order to avoid harming our partners," Granovsky said.
Kommersant draws attention to the fact that in 2015, Pashkov also became president of the charitable fund that supports international humanitarian projects. In February, the SBU accused the former Russian official of using a fund to cover the financing of the so-called LPR.
"To hide the Russian financing of the pseudo-republic and to avoid additional economic sanctions against the Russian Federation, as one of the mechanisms for providing funds for the separatists budget, a charity was chosen: the Fund for the Support of International Humanitarian Projects whose President was a Russian citizen named Vladimir I. Pashkov," the SBU reported.
Employees of Ukrainian Special Services believe that the Russian Fund transfers money to pro-Russian separatists in Luhansk through the accounts of the Russian NGO “Center for International Accounting.”
On March 1, the DPR and LPR stated that enterprises under Ukrainian jurisdiction would be transferred to "external management" of these 'republics'. Separatists intend to impose taxes on these enterprises.
On March 15, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine held an emergency meeting where they resolved to suspend the movement of cargo across the front line in the Donbas. The decision was put in force on the same day by the decree of the President of Ukraine.
NSDC (National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine) Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov said, "The NSDC decided that it would temporarily stop the movement of goods across the front line, at least until the implementation of points 1-2 of the Set of Measures on the implementation of the Minsk Agreements from February 12, 2015 and until the return of seized enterprises to Ukrainian jurisdiction,"