On 12 November, the Cabinet of Ministers led by Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko decided to submit a proposal to the National Security and Defence Council (NSDC) to impose sanctions against Tymur Mindich and Oleksandr Tsukerman.

Source: two independent government officials who spoke to Ekonomichna Pravda

Details : Under Article 5 of the Law On Sanctions, the Cabinet of Ministers has the authority to make such a submission. If approved by the NSDC, the decision to impose sanctions is then enacted by the president of Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already confirmed that he will sign the sanctions decree once the NSDC adopts the relevant decision.

"I believe that the Minister of Justice (Herman Halushchenko) and the Minister of Energy (Svitlana Hrynchuk) cannot remain in their positions. This is, among other things, a matter of trust. If there are accusations, they must respond to them. The decision on suspension from office is an operational and swift measure. I have asked the prime minister to ensure that both ministers submit their resignations," Zelenskyy stated.

Background :

• The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) has released the third part of Operation Midas, its investigation into a large-scale corruption scheme at Energoatom.
• The ringleader is alleged to be Tymur Mindich (referred to as "Karlson" in the NABU files), a businessman and co-owner of Kvartal 95, the Ukrainian TV production company that Volodymyr Zelenskyy founded before he became president. Mindich left Ukraine just hours before the NABU search began.
• Zelenskyy's close friend Tymur Mindich is alleged to have exerted influence over former energy minister Herman Halushchenko and former defence minister Rustem Umierov.
• The prosecution stated that Mindich built connections with Halushchenko through his links to Zelenskyy and acted as a patron for Halushchenko in relation to Zelenskyy.
• A few hours before the NABU raids, Tymur Mindich managed to leave the country.
• In one of the episodes of the so-called "Mindich tapes", President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is heard calling Herman Halushchenko after receiving a message from Tymur Mindich.
• Dmytro Basov, Executive Director for Security at Ukraine's state-owned nuclear energy company Energoatom, is another suspect in this case and has been remanded in custody for 60 days.

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