Former head of "Naftogaz" Andriy Kobolyev left Ukraine

Former head of "Naftogaz" Andriy Kobolyev left Ukraine

The former head of "Naftogaz", accused by NABU of appointing and awarding himself illegal multimillion-dollar bonuses, Andriy Kobolyev, has left the country.

This was revealed during a session of the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC), reports "Ukrainian Kommersant" with reference to Ukrainian News.

Last week, the High Anti-Corruption Court conducted another session in the Kobolyev case, during which it was discovered that the suspect is outside Ukraine.

Specifically, Kobolyev did not appear in the courtroom but joined the session via video conference.

The prosecutor did not oppose his participation via video link from abroad.

At the same time, the prosecutor emphasized the risks of Kobolyev not returning to Ukraine due to "fear of criminal liability".

"He may not return from this trip," the prosecutor noted.

It is unknown how and when Kobolyev left Ukraine.

Meanwhile, on December 3, SAPO announced that it had achieved a travel ban for Kobolyev from leaving Ukraine. The relevant decision was made by the HACC.

However, it later became known that due to a clerical error, this HACC decision did not come into force until December 17.

In particular, by a resolution of the HACC on December 3, the judges satisfied the prosecutor’s request and decided to impose the following procedural obligations on Kobolyev: to inform investigators of any change of residence, not to communicate with witnesses, and to surrender all foreign passports.

However, the validity period of the resolution was specified as "until March 3, 2024, inclusive".

This referred to a time period that had long passed. Therefore, after December 3, 2024, Kobolyev continued to be outside the preventive measure’s effect and the relevant procedural restrictions and could calmly leave the country.

It was only on December 17 that the HACC issued a separate resolution to correct the error. The judges set the procedural restrictions for Kobolyev to be in effect "until March 3, 2025, inclusive".

In January, it became known that the HACC’s Appeals Chamber refused to consider the issue of banning Kobolyev from leaving Ukraine.