The SBI seized property of former MP of Ukraine, who financed the occupiers from Crimea

The court seized assets of former MP of Ukraine Valeriy Gorbatov, who headed the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in the early 2000s. He continued to do business in the occupied territories of Ukraine and paid taxes to the occupiers and terrorist organizations.

The assets of a person close to him, to whom he re-registered his enterprises, were also arrested. Thus, the deputy tried to hide his illegal activities from the Ukrainian state authorities and continue economic activity in the occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea, paying taxes and fees to the budget of the aggressor state.

In total, 3 apartments, 8 administrative buildings, 2 residential buildings, 15 non-residential buildings and 42 vehicles (8 cars, 34 agricultural vehicles, trailers) were seized.

The total area of the seized real estate is over 5 thousand square meters.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing:

• under Part 4 of Art. 110-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (financing of acts committed for the purpose of forceful change or overthrow of the constitutional system or take-over of government, change of boundaries of the territory or state border of Ukraine);
• under Part 3 Art. 436-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (justification, recognition as lawful, denial of the armed aggression of the russian federation against Ukraine, glorification of its participants).

The sanction of the articles provides for punishment up to 10 years of imprisonment.

Procedural guidance is provided by the Prosecutor General's Office.

It should be reminded that in June 2022, the State Bureau of Investigations exposed Valeriy Horbatov on financing the donetsk people's republic terrorist organization. He continued to do business in the occupied territories of Ukraine and paid taxes to the occupiers.

The former official also appropriated the cultural heritage of Ukraine, according to preliminary information, stolen from the museums of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and bought from "black archaeologists".

The collaborator has close ties with the so-called head of the annexed Crimea Serhiy Aksyonov, with whom he has a joint business. And Aksyonov's wife gave a power of attorney for the right to use her property to Valeriy Horbatov.

In addition, Valeriy Horbatov is directly related to the activities of "Horlivka Paper Factory" and "Charity Union (BS)" LLC, which operate in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine and, accordingly, pay taxes there, which, in fact, finance illegal armed terrorist groups.

Firms affiliated with Valeriy Gorbatov also operate in the temporarily occupied Crimea. In order not to " flash" personally, Horbatov's business in the occupied part of Ukraine is registered on his son, nephew and other trustees.