A video of a conversation about the state procurement of backpacks for the use of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine was posted to YouTube. One of the participants in the conversation looks like the son of the Minister of Internal Affairs (MIA), Alexander Avakov, another one looks like the former Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Sergey Chebotar.

This video was allegedly shot with a hidden camera in the office of Sergey Chebotar. Before he was fired in May 2015, he was in charge of acquiring supplies for the department. Previously, it was known that video surveillance of Chebotar's office was conducted by the SSU at the request of the Military Prosecutor's Office. The Prosecutor's Office was investigating corruption in the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

One of the excerpts from the recording has already been published. It shows Chebotar allegedly negotiating the sale of sand that belongs to the Ministry at a reduced price. This video has been determined to be authentic.

Recently a video was posted that shows a conversation about the purchase of a large batch of backpacks for the Ministry of Internal Affairs. A man, who looks like Avakov's son, is stating he wants to sell them, but only after the New Year, and is requesting payment in advance. Avakov Jr. is addressed by another man in a familiar way, as ‘Sashulya.’

The Radio Liberty program "The Scheme" compared what was said in the video with actual events.

The dialogue in the video takes place in December 2014, and in February 2015 the Ministry of Internal Affairs bought backpacks worth 16.5 million Hryvnia (about $660,000 at the exchange rate in February 2015).

One of the companies that won the contract is an unknown company, Dniprovend, from Dnepropetrovsk. It was the largest contractor and provided 5,000 backpacks.

"The Schemes" tried to find this company or its representatives in Dnepropetrovsk. At the address specified among the contacts of the organization, there has not been any such company for at least a year.

"We already had this conversation with the tax inspectors as they were also looking for it... We have officially responded to the tax inspection that in February 2015, the lease was terminated, all debts were paid by this company, and it has disappeared," the owners of the building where the Dniprovend company was registered said to the journalists.

At the time when the contract for the production of backpacks was won by Dniprovend, the MIA had been conducting an investigation into the activities of this company for over a year, as a so-called ‘Conversion Center,’ a fictitious organization. This didn't prevent officials of the Ministry from purchasing the backpacks for 14.5 million Hryvnia.

The journalists weren't able to contact Sergey Chebotar, as his phone was turned off. However, in an interview with Levy Bereg earlier, he said that the video from his office and the meaning of his words were modified.

The Scheme was able to reach the head of the MIA of Ukraine, Alexander Avakov, by phone. He said he doesn't remember whether he was in Chebotarev’s office and that neither he nor anyone else in his family has anything to do with the supply of backpacks to the MIA.

Arsen Avakov denies all accusations of the involvement of his family in this case.

The MIA Press Service refrains from commenting on this situation and redirects journalists to the Prosecutor General's Office.

The investigation into the purchase of the backpacks was transferred to the Military Prosecutor's Office, but there has been no further development in this case; there is no information about the investigation in the open the register of the court and no suspects have been declared.

Later, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Alexander Avakov, published a Facebook post, explaining in detail the situation involving the purchase of backpacks. He categorically denied the accusations of the involvement of his son and other members of his family in this case. According to the Minister, the publication of information regarding the possible corrupt ties of Alexander Avakov is a result of the work done by the political opponents of the Minister, and their appearance on the eve of the ‘Government reboot’ is not accidental.

"I already wrote about the hideous forms of political competition and how awful it is for me and how it affects my family. Surveillance and listening in on the phone conversations of my wife and my son, the release of fabricated information, fake news, photos and videos... Where are the limits to this abomination?! And the constant attempts to get revenge by people like Firtash and Grigorishin, and the ‘greetings’ from the Party of Regions and fired high-ranking police officers and ‘kindness’ by the political partners who want to get rid of the competition. I understand the motives, and I'm disgusted by them," Avakov wrote.

  Ukraine, Corruption

Comments