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Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
Investigator court number 5 El-Vendrell is currently preparing to interrogate the blogger and his wife as suspects.
A large-scale investigation into pro-Russian blogger Anatoliy Shariy and his wife Olga Bondarenko is ongoing in Spain. The couple are suspected of receiving money from Russian intelligence services and of financial manipulations. This was reported by the Spanish newspaper El Diario, citing investigative materials.
The investigation was initiated on the basis of a request for international cooperation sent by Ukrainian law enforcement authorities.
The case is being handled by the investigating court of the city of El Vendrell. The Tarragonna Civil Guard Information Group (intelligence unit), the provincial prosecutor's office, and the Tax Agency are involved in the investigation.
The case materials state that the funding is connected with "information indicating Anatoliy Shariy’s involvement in coordinated and paid activity against Ukraine’s interests and in favor of the Russian Federation’s intelligence services."
The publication notes that the involvement of the Civil Guard’s intelligence unit is unusual for ordinary tax crimes. Law enforcement officers speculate that the subjects may indeed be spies in the Kremlin’s service.
Meanwhile, the investigation is checking possible financial maneuvers of the suspects, who have had tax residency in Spain since 2016. Tax Administration experts involved in the investigation found probable tax evasion exceeding 150 thousand euros in 2018 and about 388 thousand euros in 2022.
The Civil Guard also recorded "additional sources of income" for the bloggers for the period 2019–2021 years. This concerns bank accounts in Russia and Lithuania, P2P payments from the Russian Federation and Luxembourg, transfers from private individuals from Kazakhstan, cryptocurrency operations, and payments from online platforms.
Shariy, upon learning of the investigation, attempted to move capital out of Spain. He sold his main economic asset – a house in Tarragona.
The funds received by the blogger were reportedly spent in full on the purchase of jewelry and precious metals that "can be easily concealed."
In June this year searches were conducted at Shariy and Bondarenko’s current residence. Law enforcement officers seized computer equipment, phones, and a Glock model 19 pistol. About 800 thousand euros in cryptocurrency, 20 kilograms of gold bars valued at 150 thousand euros, works of art, watches, and luxury items totaling 400 thousand euros, and a Porsche Cayenne were also found.
The court ruled to arrest the seized jewelry, metals, works of art, and cryptocurrency.
Investigator court number 5 El-Vendrell is currently preparing to interrogate both suspects as accused.
Shariy himself rejects the charges.
As is known, in 2021 the Security Service of Ukraine announced Shariy’s suspicion under the article on treason and violation of equality of citizens.
Additionally, in 2023 the Security Service again informed of Shariy’s suspicion of treason.
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