NABU said Galushchenko influenced the NERC and Ministry of Energy after moving to the Ministry of Justice

NABU said Galushchenko influenced the NERC and Ministry of Energy after moving to the Ministry of Justice

NABU uncovered data that may indicate Herman Galushchenko continued to influence the work of the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Ministry of Energy after moving from the post of minister of energy to minister of justice.

This was reported by Member of Parliament Yaroslav Zheleznyak, citing NABU detective Oleksandr Abakumov.

According to him, analysis of Galushchenko’s phone indicates this. After his appointment as minister of justice he continued communicating with the chair and members of the NERC.

In the correspondence, detectives found arrangements for meetings in the Ministry of Energy building, as well as discussions of NABU’s requests. In particular, there was talk of summoning an NERC member for questioning in the case concerning payments for electricity produced in the occupied territories.

Zheleznyak clarified that this concerns the case of solar power plants owned by the brother of the former deputy head of the Office of the President, Rostyslav Shurma.

Also, according to NABU, the correspondence discussed NERC conducting inspections of specific companies at a designated time on Galushchenko’s instructions.

In addition, detectives reviewed minutes of the committee meetings at the Office of the President that Shurma chaired and where Galushchenko was his deputy. According to Abakumov, the committee leadership systematically determined NERC’s work directions and gave the regulator tasks with specific deadlines. NABU believes this bears signs of an actual restriction of the regulator’s institutional independence.

Recall that in February Galushchenko was indicted in a case about embezzlement in the energy sector. He was later released on bail in the amount of 150 million hryvnias. NABU believes that these funds were paid from “laundered” money.

Currently, Deputy Head of the Office of the President Iryna Mudra is detained in this case. Galushchenko himself may again end up in pretrial detention.