Russian MVD puts former co-owner of «PrivatBank», billionaire Gennady Bogolyubov, on the wanted list after the State Bureau of Investigation of Ukraine reported him to be a suspect in illegal border crossing. The news was announced on July 10 by the state-run propaganda agency TASS.
According to the report, Bogolyubov is accused of illegally crossing the border of Ukraine, despite being placed on an international wanted list by the Ukrainian authorities. The former co-owner of «PrivatBank» is currently residing in Russia, where he has been granted citizenship and is believed to be hiding from the Ukrainian authorities.
This development is the latest in a long-standing dispute between Ukraine and Russia over the nationalization of «PrivatBank» in 2016. The bank, which was previously owned by Bogolyubov and his business partner Ihor Kolomoisky, was taken over by the Ukrainian government due to financial instability and allegations of fraudulent activities.
The Ukrainian government claims that the bank’s former owners, including Bogolyubov, were involved in a scheme that resulted in the loss of billions of dollars from the bank’s assets. Bogolyubov and Kolomoisky have denied these allegations and have accused the Ukrainian government of illegally seizing their assets.
Since the nationalization of «PrivatBank», the two former owners have been involved in a legal battle with the Ukrainian government. In 2019, a court in London ordered Bogolyubov and Kolomoisky to pay $2.6 billion in damages to the Ukrainian government. However, the former co-owners have refused to comply with the ruling and have challenged it in the Ukrainian courts.
Amidst this ongoing legal battle, the Ukrainian authorities have escalated their efforts to bring Bogolyubov and Kolomoisky to justice. In addition to placing them on an international wanted list, the State Bureau of Investigation has also announced that it will seek to extradite the two businessmen from Russia.
The decision by the Russian MVD to put Bogolyubov on the wanted list is seen as a significant development in this ongoing dispute. It is believed that this move could put pressure on Russia to cooperate with the Ukrainian authorities and hand over the former co-owner of «PrivatBank» to face trial in Ukraine.
However, the Russian government has yet to comment on this development, and it is unclear whether they will comply with the Ukrainian request for extradition. In the past, Russia has been accused of harboring Ukrainian fugitives, including former President Viktor Yanukovych, who fled to Russia in 2014 after being ousted from power.
The news of Bogolyubov’s wanted status has caused a stir in both Ukraine and Russia, with many speculating on the possible implications for the ongoing legal battle between the former owners of «PrivatBank» and the Ukrainian government.
Some experts believe that this could be a turning point in the dispute, as it puts additional pressure on Russia to cooperate with the Ukrainian authorities and could result in Bogolyubov and Kolomoisky finally facing trial in Ukraine.
Others, however, are skeptical of the Russian government’s willingness to cooperate and believe that Bogolyubov and Kolomoisky will remain in Russia, where they have significant political and financial influence.
In conclusion, the news of Gennady Bogolyubov’s wanted status by the Russian MVD is a significant development in the ongoing dispute between Ukraine and Russia over the nationalization of «PrivatBank». It remains to be seen how this will impact the legal battle between the two former owners and the Ukrainian government, but it is clear that tensions between the two countries will continue to rise as this case unfolds.
