The businessman and former deputy was arrested in Courchevel (Savoie) on December 27.
Considered one of the greatest fortunes of his country, he has been prosecuted for several years in several cases. And the question that now arises is simple: will France extradite Konstantin? jevago ? This businessman was arrested at the end of last year in Courchevel, Savoie. He was wanted by kyiv. Justice is considering Thursday, March 16 on the request of the Ukrainian authorities.
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The one who denounces a political score settling today had a life of luxury between Dubai and London, where he has shared his life since he fled Ukraine in 2019. Konstantin jevago had opted for a luxury hotel in the mountains to spend the end-of-year holidays with the family in Courchevel. But on December 27 at the end of the day, the judicial police of Chambéry came to arrest him.
A suspicion of embezzlement of 106 million euros
The 49-year-old businessman, now the main shareholder of a mining company, Ferrexpo, listed in London, fifth fortune of Ukraine according to the magazine Forbeswas targeted by an Interpol red notice: an international arrest warrant, because he is suspected by Ukrainian justice of having embezzled 106 million euros while his bank, Finance and Credit, went bankrupt in 2015. Konstantin’s estate jevago – also a former member of the Ukrainian Parliament (from 1998 to 2019) sometimes as an independent, sometimes in the camp of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko – had already been seized in Ukraine, in particular company shares and dozens of real estate. In early March, the Kiev Commercial Court decided to seize the 50.3% stakes in the Poltava, Eristivskiy and Bilanivskiy mining plants held by Konstantin Jevago via Ferrexpo. These facilities are located in the Poltava region in central Ukraine.
Konstantin Jevago deny the facts:This is the first time in my life that I am going to prison. I
did not commit the acts of which I am accused“, he then declared during the short hearing, on January 5 in Chambéry. The businessman then had to pay a deposit of one million euros to regain his freedom and get out of the remand center. d’Aiton (Savoie), with a ban on leaving the territory. Placed under judicial supervision, he was also obliged to hand over his two passports and “to report three times a week to the police station of his place of residence“, had then specified a press release from the Court.
“I am not an oligarch”
He also refuses the label of oligarch and claims to be the victim of a political score settling, as a former deputy and opponent of the camp of current President Volodymyr Zelensky. “In Ukraine, they say I am an oligarch. It’s not true, I always fought against them“, “injustice” And “Corruption“. Today I pay for it” And “I don’t deserve this“, he had launched to the judges.
He also says he fears for his safety if he is extradited to Ukraine, a fortiori in times of war. This is among other things what his lawyers have planned to plead before the Chambéry Court of Appeal, this Thursday, March 16.