Poroshenko Leaves Ukraine After SBI Investigators Tried to Serve Him Suspicion Notice in Coal Supply Case from ORDLO

Fifth president evaded law enforcement after cursing out his driver.

Fifth President of Ukraine and head of the parliamentary faction “European Solidarity” Petro Poroshenko flew to Turkey after State Bureau of Investigation officers tried to serve him a suspicion notice in a coal supply case from ORDLO and collaboration with terrorists.

The party stated that Poroshenko flew out on a pre-planned working trip, while media claim he allegedly bought a ticket right before departure.

The “European Solidarity” press service also accused President Volodymyr Zelensky of “political persecution” and compared him to fugitive president Viktor Yanukovych, saying “he too engaged in persecution during the New Year holidays.”

SBI Suspicion Notice

On December 17, in order to establish all circumstances of the criminal proceedings and make appropriate decisions, SBI officers tried to serve a summons on Petro Poroshenko near the Verkhovna Rada, but he ignored law enforcement representatives and drove off in an unknown direction.

“To avoid manipulation and subsequent information speculation around this criminal case, the SBI states that it acts strictly within and in the manner defined by law, including summoning officials and serving relevant notices,” the agency’s statement said.

A video published by the SBI shows Poroshenko getting into a car, and from inside, a voice resembling his uses profanity to tell the driver to leave.

As noted, investigators are looking into a criminal case concerning a scheme of supplying coal from temporarily occupied territories and aiding the terrorist organizations “LNR” and “DNR” by a group of Ukrainian citizens.

The case is being investigated under Part 1 and Part 3 of Article 258-5 (terrorism financing), Part 1 of Article 111 (treason) and Part 1 of Article 258-3 (creating a terrorist organization) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

In September–November 2021, a suspicion was already reported in this case to one sitting People’s Deputy and a former energy minister.

Departure Abroad

European Solidarity claims Poroshenko left for a “pre-planned diplomatic tour to Turkey and Poland.” In Istanbul, Poroshenko allegedly is to meet Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and in Poland take part in an international conference on the topic “Russia – Ukraine – NATO: Escalation of Tensions on the Eastern Flank.”

Meanwhile, as reported by “UNIAN”, Poroshenko bought a plane ticket to Istanbul 15 minutes after media reports appeared about plans to serve him a suspicion notice.

The “European Solidarity” press service subsequently released another statement, accusing the SBI of political persecution of Poroshenko and mentioning former president Viktor Yanukovych.

“Petro Poroshenko’s lawyers have publicly provided exhaustive answers and all arguments regarding the politically motivated so-called ‘coal case’ and its complete groundlessness. Notably, the favorite time of Viktor Yanukovych for persecuting opposition leaders and his political rivals was the New Year holidays,” the party’s press service states.