https://mezha.net/eng/bukvy/businessman-timur-mindich-in-israel-amid-operation-midas-energy-corruption-probe/

Investigative journalists have found that businessman Timur Mindich is in Israel, where, according to investigators, he is a key figure in a large-scale investigation in the energy sector, dubbed “Operation Midas.” Details of his stay abroad and the circumstances of a possible escape promise publication in the near future.

On December 10, Ihor Kolomoyskyi stated that there had been an “attempt” on Mindich in Israel on November 28.

On November 13, the president signed a decree introducing sanctions against Mindich and Oleksandr Tsukerman, who are suspected of money laundering in the Energoatom embezzlement case.

On November 10, NABU conducted searches at Mindich, who had recently left Ukraine. According to the investigation, he crossed the border legally: he was granted departure in accordance with current legislation; a spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service said that the reason for his departure was the presence of three children under 18. A NABU detective assured that Mindich would be brought back.

On December 1, Mindich was remanded in custody in absentia. The investigation regards him as the head of a group that received and laundered funds from corruption schemes in the energy sector. The case may now be handed over to Interpol for his arrest, particularly when crossing the border.

What is known about Operation “Midas”

On November 10, NABU announced a large-scale operation “Midas” to uncover corruption in the energy sector. As part of the investigation, more than 70 searches were conducted. According to investigators, participants in the scheme received up to 15% of Energoatom’s contract value as “kickbacks.” Counterparties paid these sums to companies pushed onto them by scheme participants. NABU stresses that the money was laundered in so-called back offices in central Kyiv. Officially, the total amount laundered is said to be about 100 million dollars. On November 10, recordings of conversations with code names were released. The main defendants are Mindich (“Carlson”) and Oleksandr Tsukerman (“Sugar Man”), who left the country before the searches. Sanctions were imposed on them and they were declared wanted. Notably, investigators named four ministers from different administrations as participants in the case; among them is former energy minister German Galushchenko, under whom investigative actions were also carried out. Subsequently he and Svitlana Hrynchuk were dismissed from their posts. There was also talk of government decisions to restart Energoatom’s activities and dissolve the supervisory board. On November 12, the High Anti-Corruption Court chose preventive measures for other defendants; including private entrepreneur Lesia Ustimenko and former adviser to Galushchenko Ihor Myroniuk. On November 13, charges were announced, and on December 1 Mindich was remanded in custody in absentia. The investigation also considers options to transfer the case to Interpol.

The investigative materials also discuss further steps by investigators and possibilities for international manhunt. The investigation is ongoing, and new details about Mindich’s whereabouts abroad and the details of his flight are expected.

Law enforcement and international partners continue to work on clarifying the scale of funds involved and the possibility of extradition in the future. The Mindich case tied to the energy sector will be considered with all evidence and testimonies that could influence the course of the case and hold other involved individuals accountable.