“The lawsuit is based, in particular, on the findings of the “Scheme” (Radio Liberty) investigation into the support of Friedman’s companies for the Russian war against Ukraine”, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
The Ministry of Justice, in particular, is asking the court to apply sanctions and allow the shares of the companies owned by Fridman, Aven and Kosogov to be collected from the state income. This is 82.1% of the total number of shares of PJSC “Insurance Company “Alfa Strahuvannia” and 86.2% of the share of the authorized capital in the companies “Alfa-Leasing Ukraine” LLC, “Parity Finance” LLC, “Sens Digital” LLC and ” Universal leasing company “ALPHA”.
Also, the Ministry of Justice requests to completely confiscate the shares of Myrgorod Mineral Water Plant PrJSC, Morshyn Mineral Water Plant “Oscar” PrJSC, Industrial and Distribution Systems PrJSC, 100% of the shares of the authorized capital of IDS Aqua Service LLC, Potuzhnist LLC, PE “IVA”, SE “NOVA.KOM”, as well as – to withdraw 3.3% of the shares of PJSC “Ukrainian branch company for the production of beer, soft drinks and mineral waters “UKRPIVO”. These companies are indirectly owned by Rissa Investments Limited. The latter is 49.99% owned by Aven, Friedman and Kosogov.
“The company “Rissa Investments Limited” is a holding company, the subsidiaries of which carry out the production and distribution of mineral waters, in particular, on the territory of Ukraine, the Russian Federation and Georgia, and together with the company “Rissa Investments Limited” form the “Borjomi” Group of Companies”, – it is stated in the notification of the Ministry of Justice.
As the Ministry notes, Friedman, Aven and Kosogov “are Russian businessmen, founders and shareholders of companies that are part of the Alfa-Group financial and investment consortium.”
Earlier, “Schemy” (Radio Liberty) told how the Russian company “AlfaStrakhovanie”, owned by Mykhailo Fridman, provides the Russian Guard with insurance services for official vehicles, including those military units that take a direct part in a full-scale war against Ukraine and support the Russian regime on occupied territories.
At the same time, investigators established that Friedman’s other Russian company, X5 Retail Group, continued to cooperate with the Russian military-industrial complex during the full-scale invasion, namely, with the Voentorg enterprise of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, which supplies the Russian military with uniforms and food products.
After the publication of an investigation into the cooperation of the Russian “AlfaStrakhovaniya” with units of the Russian Guard participating in the war against Ukraine, the owner of this insurance company, the Luxembourg holding ABH Holdings, whose shareholder is Friedman, announced its intention to withdraw from business in Russia – both insurance and banking
Later, in July 2023, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, implemented the decision of the National Security and Defense Council to impose sanctions on a number of companies, which are co-owned by Friedman.
In particular, sanctions were imposed on 18 legal entities, including parent structures of “Sens Bank” (formerly “Alfa-Bank”), as well as companies from the ownership structure of Friedman’s insurance business under the “AlfaStrakhovanie” brand. Sanctions were introduced at the initiative of the National Bank of Ukraine on the basis of data published in May 2023 by investigative journalists of “Scheme”.
In September 2023, the Security Service of Ukraine notified Fridman of suspicion (and later declared him wanted) under the article “Financing of actions committed with the aim of violent change or overthrow of the constitutional order or seizure of state power, change of territorial boundaries or state border of Ukraine.” For this, deprivation of liberty for a period of six to eight years with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions and engage in certain activities for up to three years, as well as confiscation of property, is provided for.