The case of former Chernihivgaz head Alla Yarova related to gas losses of hundreds of millions has been sent to court

An indictment has been sent to court against former PJSC Chernihivgaz Board Chair Alla Yarova. According to the investigation, she was involved in schemes of unauthorized gas withdrawal that caused losses to the company and state interests amounting to hundreds of millions of hryvnias.

The criminal proceeding was investigated at the highest level, with procedural supervision carried out by prosecutors of the Office of the Prosecutor General. The injured party in the case is recognized as PJSC Gas Distribution System Operator Chernihivgaz.

According to the investigation, the official was involved in implementing large-scale schemes of unauthorized withdrawal of natural gas intended for production and technological needs. As a result of these actions, the company and state interests, law enforcement claims, suffered substantial material damage. Its amount is calculated in the hundreds of millions of hryvnias.

Alla Yarova’s actions have been qualified under part 5 of article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — embezzlement, misappropriation of property, or seizure of it by abusing official position, committed in especially large amounts or by an organized group.

This article provides for from 7 to 12 years of imprisonment. It may also include deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to 3 years with confiscation of property.

On 31 August, the criminal proceeding against Alla Yarova will begin to be heard by Judge Anton Didenko of the Novozavodskyi District Court of Chernihiv.

Background of the case

In December 2023 the Shevchenkivskyi District Court of Kyiv chose a preventive measure for Yarova in the form of detention with the possibility of posting bail of more than 110 million hryvnias.

In January 2024 the bail amount was reduced to 30 million hryvnias. After that, the former head of Chernihivgaz was released from the pretrial detention center.

According to refined data, the bail for her was posted by LLC “Tviy Hazzbut,” whose ultimate beneficial owner is Dmytro Firtash. Chernihivgaz was part of a group of regional gas distribution companies linked to Firtash’s business group.

Earlier reports about Yarova’s release also mentioned Bank “Klyrynhovyi Dim,” which was linked to the family of former OPZZh Member of Parliament Yulia Lyovochkina. Subsequent clarification, however, concerned the company that posted the bail — LLC “Tviy Hazzbut.”

According to the SBU, Alla Yarova’s case is part of a large-scale criminal proceeding regarding the alleged appropriation of gas. According to the investigation, the scheme may have involved leaders of 16 regional gas companies and representatives of a financial-industrial group associated with Dmytro Firtash.