Skhemy reveal 'secret meeting' of Kolomoisky and Bohdan

Journalists believe the head of the Office of the President and the oligarch met and could have been negotiating something.

The programme Skhemy recorded a secret meeting between Andriy Bohdan, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, and businessman Ihor Kolomoisky. According to journalists, late in the evening of December 25, the head of the Presidential Office and the oligarch met with associates and business partners at a restaurant in a 5-star hotel in central Kyiv.

At around 18:00, the film crew noticed Bohdan's convoy leave a side gate of the Office of the President and head for an Italian restaurant in Pechersk. In the restaurant, the head of the Presidential Office met with Andriy Kobolev, chairman of the board of Naftogaz of Ukraine. An hour later, Bohdan left the restaurant.

Meanwhile, at around 17:00, journalists spotted a car near Kolomoisky's office waiting by an underground car park. It was a vehicle from the convoy of businessman Mykhailo Kiperman, who is linked to Kolomoisky and registered to the company Transport-Production Firm Naftotransservis LLC.

At 19:45, Skhemy spotted both cars — Bohdan's and Kiperman's — near the Premier Palace hotel in the centre of the capital. Bohdan's driver entered the hotel, and a few minutes later another man came out with him — Bohdan's bodyguard, who accompanies him everywhere.

Later, Kolomoisky arrived at the 5-star hotel, followed by his business partner and co-owner of the Kvartal 95 studio, Timur Mindich.

Journalists called the restaurant to check whether outside guests were allowed. They confirmed that a table could be booked.

The film crew decided to go inside. In the restaurant, journalists saw that the personal bodyguard of the head of the Presidential Office and the personal bodyguard of the oligarch Kolomoisky sat down at the entrance to a separate private room. About an hour later, Bohdan's bodyguard entered the adjoining room, spoke with the manager and left, after which Kolomoisky's business partner and member of the informal Privat business group Mykhailo Kiperman, as well as former MP and friend of the oligarch Yevhen Geller, left the private room.

Timur Mindich came out of the room next, and Kolomoisky was the last to leave it.

Journalists asked the oligarch how his business is developing under the rule of Volodymyr Zelensky.

'I can tell you that it certainly isn't being deliberately obstructed. But the exchange rate of 23 speaks for itself. ... I feel pressure on my business, but others are experiencing this pressure too', — Kolomoisky said, among other things.

He also said that he believes PrivatBank will be returned.

'Well, all right, I lost the bank. Well, I haven't got it back yet, but I will soon. ... I don't have the slightest doubt. ... Believe me, justice will prevail. No matter how hard the IMF beats its head against the wall, makes up laws, or says whatever it says, it's all empty nonsense', — the oligarch added.

Later, he also noted that if the PrivatBank issue is not resolved in his favour, he will not fight either President Zelensky or the state of Ukraine.

While journalists were talking to Kolomoisky, Bohdan's bodyguard left the restaurant together with Kiperman and Geller. The bodyguard got into the car of the head of the Presidential Office, which drove toward an area that includes the entrance to the Premier Palace underground car park.

Journalists also asked Kolomoisky about his ties to the current government.

Journalist: What connects you with Bohdan now? Do you communicate, or can't you say? And did you meet with him today?

Kolomoisky: At which meeting?

- At this restaurant.

- No. When I arrived, he was already gone.

- Bohdan was not there. Are you in contact with him now? Do you call each other, see each other?

- Well, yes, very rarely. He is very busy.

- There is information that Bohdan has distanced himself from you. Previously you often talked and you conveyed your thoughts to him.

- They're lying.

- He hasn't distanced himself?

- They're lying. Ill-wishers.

- You call, Bohdan picks up, and you talk with him?

- Well, he calls me too, and I pick up. Why would he distance himself from me? We are friends.

- Different spheres of influence, different businessmen now.

- He is in public service. We don't talk about his service, about his government work.

After speaking with the oligarch, the Skhemy film crew entered the private room where the dinner had taken place and saw that there was a back door there.

Andriy Kobolev refused to answer questions about this meeting and the agreements reached at it. Andriy Bohdan also did not respond to journalists' questions.

Earlier, journalists from the Skhemy programme found out who attended the birthday celebration of former Prosecutor General of Ukraine Yuriy Lutsenko. It turned out that some of the guests themselves feature in criminal cases and anti-corruption investigations.