In his interview for ‘Priamyi’ TV channel Petro Poroshenko brushed off the allegations by Bigus.info concerning the ‘exchange’ of Sevastopol Shipyard for the benefits from ‘Medvedchuk’s pipeline’.
Petro Poroshenko emphasized that the enterprise was confiscated by the Russian occupation administration of Crimea.
‘This business is listed in my declaration. Comparing the data from the register of court decisions, asset register, and my declaration would be enough not to spread lies’, Poroshenko remarked.
‘European Solidarity’ leader thanked the director of the enterprise Mr. Kartoshkin who ‘risked his freedom and, quite possible, life to remove the confidential documentation and ownership documents to Kyiv; reregistered the shipyard and showed how those who do not recognize the Russian occupation of Crimea should act’.
According to Poroshenko, Bigus report fails to mention that the ‘pipeline’ in question was already owned by Russia for over twenty years. In 2014, 2015 and later the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) took measures to take back the ‘pipeline’ from Russia.
Moreover, Poroshenko drew attention to the fact that ‘[…] during the presidency of Leonid Makarovych Kravchuk the redistribution of assets took place: some objects were passed to Russia, others to Ukraine. According to that allocation of resources and Leonid Kravchuk’s decision, Russia received that pipe. It was owned by Russia all this time. […] Has this been known? It has. Did journalists know that? They did. However, they have not said anything about it. That is why this is a manipulation’.
Poroshenko called on Zelensky’s officials not to rush to claim credit for taking ‘pipeline’ back as long as there is no final court ruling. ‘European Solidarity’ leader also doubted if it is any better not with ‘pipe .. put into Kolomoysky’s control’.
‘When you reclaim the pipeline, I will welcome this. When we have a legal decision, I will welcome it. But do not tell lies as there are governmental documents, NSDC documents signed by Poroshenko, which clearly reflect Poroshenko’s position’, he emphasized.