The defense attorney for businessman Timur Mindich has stated that he cannot verify the authenticity of conversations released by journalists and members of parliament, as the audio recordings and their transcripts were not provided to the defense either officially or unofficially in the context of the ongoing criminal proceedings.
Andriy Kostenok, the attorney, made these remarks in a comment to Radio Svoboda. He emphasized that no recordings or transcripts had been shared with the defense team, thereby precluding any confirmation of the authenticity of the materials published by “Ukrainska Pravda” and MPs Yaroslav Zheleznyak and Oleksiy Honcharenko.
“Regarding Timur Mindich’s status in the mentioned conversations, there is currently no procedurally confirmed information that would allow for a proper establishment of the context, the participants, or the legal nature of these recordings. Any public conclusions on this matter without proper procedural verification are premature and unfounded,” Kostenok stated.
Kostenok suggested that the publication of these recordings constitutes a form of pressure on Mindich. He intends to advocate for a thorough investigation into the source of the leak and the verification of the authenticity of the released materials in accordance with the law.
The attorney also addressed Zheleznyak’s claim that he received the recordings from the defense team of individuals involved in the Energoatom embezzlement case. Kostenok characterized this statement as an attempt to discredit the lawyers and distract from the true sources of the leak.
On April 29, “Ukrainska Pravda” reported that it had published part of the so-called “Mindich tapes,” allegedly obtained from sources within political circles.
One of the transcripts reportedly features a discussion between Mindich and then-Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov regarding the operations of the company Fire Point. The conversation includes topics related to the sale of a stake in Fire Point to foreign investors, indicating that a 33% share of the company was under consideration for sale at $600 million, with $300 million earmarked for company development and the remainder to be paid directly to shareholders.
Mindich has publicly denied any involvement with the company. He is implicated in a case concerning embezzlement at Energoatom, with a preventive measure of detention issued against him in absentia on December 1, 2025. Investigators allege that he led a group that received and laundered funds through corrupt schemes in the energy sector. The case may soon be referred to Interpol for his arrest, particularly during border crossings.
On May 1, MPs Yaroslav Zheleznyak and Oleksiy Honcharenko released new transcripts of the “Mindich tapes.” They claim that these recordings include a conversation from July 8, 2025, between Mindich and then-Defense Minister Umerov, who currently serves as the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council.
Zheleznyak asserted that the recordings “leaked” from the lawyers representing one of the individuals involved in the “Midas” case. He explained that the format of the document and, crucially, the header on the first page indicate that the materials originated from the defense team, leaving little doubt about their source.
The authenticity of the tapes has not been independently verified. However, Zheleznyak claimed he had confirmed their authenticity “to the extent possible.”
In light of these developments, Suspilne has sought comments from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP).
The defense attorney for Timur Mindich has raised concerns about the authenticity of leaked recordings involving his client, asserting that no such evidence has been provided to the defense. He plans to pursue an investigation into the source of these leaks amid ongoing criminal proceedings related to embezzlement allegations.