MOSCOW, February 13. /TASS/. Ukraine published a decree on sanctions against ex-President Petro Poroshenko (placed by Rosfinmonitoring on the list of persons involved in extremist activities or terrorist acts) and the head of the Other Ukraine movement, ex-leader of the banned Opposition Platform - for Life party Viktor Medvedchuk.
The document, published on Vladimir Zelensky’s website, says businessman Igor Kolomoisky (listed as an extremist and terrorist in Russia), businessman Konstantin Zhevago, and former Privatbank shareholder Gennady Bogolyubov are also on the sanctions list.
Medvedchuk
Zelensky started his political persecution of Medvedchuk quite some time ago. Earlier, Medvedchuk was illegally stripped of his Ukrainian citizenship, as well as his parliamentary seat and state award. Medvedchuk's Opposition Platform - For Life party was banned, and sanctions have been repeatedly imposed on him since 2021, lasting for several years. The current sanctions against Medvedchuk are indefinite. They include 17 restrictive actions, such as revocation of state awards, freezing of assets, complete halt of trade operations, suspension of economic and financial commitments, termination of trade agreements and provision of electronic communication services, a ban on acquiring land and entering into contracts, as well as the use of Ukraine's radio frequency spectrum.
Poroshenko
Sanctions against Poroshenko are also indefinite, and his assets have been frozen.
The 17 restrictive actions against Poroshenko include a ban on acquiring land, restrictions on trade activities, complete discontinuation of electronic communication services, and other measures.
The ex-president is also prohibited from utilizing "electronic communication networks," as well as "accessing the radio frequency spectrum of Ukraine." Poroshenko is banned from removing capital from the country, participating in privatization, transiting resources through Ukraine, and transferring intellectual property rights.
On February 12, Poroshenko stated that Ukraine’s Security Council had imposed sanctions on him. He also reported that he was immediately served with 15 summonses to the State Bureau of Investigation. Ukrainian media, citing sources, reported that Poroshenko may face charges of treason, and his arrest could be imminent.
The new US administration previously stated that Washington wants the presidential elections in Ukraine to be held before the end of this year. Ukrainian media reported that following that, pressure from Zelensky, whose presidential powers officially expired on May 20, 2024, on the political opposition has intensified.
The other three
The other entrepreneurs included on the list, against whom 17 sanctions have been imposed indefinitely, have previously faced persecution in Ukraine. Zhevago and Bogolyubov were detained in absentia, while Kolomoisky has been incarcerated since 2023. The decree was published on February 13, which coincides with Kolomoisky's birthday, who had supported Zelensky when he was elected president in 2019.
According to the Strana publication, Zelensky imposed sanctions against the three businessmen to seize their largest deposits of iron and manganese ore just before finalizing a deal with the United States to develop minerals.
Zelensky backtracks
However, later in the day Zelensky said he was ready to lift the sanctions in exchange for alleged dirty money taken to help allay Ukraine’s budget deficit.
"I'm surprised that the financial monitoring agency didn’t reveal this to us earlier. I didn't see it, and I cannot say how things were before me. Now the Security Service and the financial monitoring agency show that there are billions involved. People create funds to support the military, get money, and then give this money to their party members," Zelensky said.
"We have a budget deficit today. These people can return these billions, we will give them to the army, and I will lift the sanctions - no problem."