Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
Tuka reminded that former high-ranking Security Service of Ukraine official and ex-advisor to the Office of the President Artyom Shilo reached a deal with the prosecutor of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office
Former deputy minister for temporarily occupied territories Georhiy Tuka drew attention to potential testimony by former senior SBU official Artyom Shilo regarding pressure on Parimatch. In his view, if information about using sanctions as a tool to extort money is confirmed, it is necessary to establish all circumstances of the adoption of the corresponding state decision.
This was written by Georghiy Tuka on his Facebook page, commenting on Ukrainian businessman Volodymyr Boiko's post about possible testimony by Artyom Shilo regarding blackmail of Parimatch and the circumstances of imposing sanctions against the company.
Tuka reminded that former senior SBU official and ex-advisor to the Office of the President Artyom Shilo struck a deal with the prosecutor of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office. The court sentenced him to eight years in prison with release from serving the sentence and a three-year probation period. Among Shilo's obligations is providing incriminating testimony about other persons.
According to Tuka, these testimonies could help establish exactly what happened before the sanctions against Parimatch were imposed.
He also recalled that as far back as March 2023 year the company publicly stated about pressure from certain employees of the SBU. Specifically, it referred to blocking payments, influence over banks, and threats of opening criminal proceedings.
Tuka drew attention to the claim that, in his words, official evidence of Parimatch's operations in Russia has not yet been disclosed.
"If the version that the company received sanctions simply after Refusing to pay corrupt security officials is confirmed, it is necessary to trace the entire path from extortion to the state decision," he emphasized.
The former official noted that during his work at the Ministry for Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons his ministry prepared proposals for imposing sanctions. Therefore, in his words, he understands the responsibility that sits behind such decisions.
Tuka emphasized that sanctions should be based on verified information, evidence, and concrete grounds, because any mistakes and abuse of reputation cost the entire state.
He also recalled cases when, in his words, deputies "traded" sanctions, and the corresponding case was referred to court.
In Tuka's view, the possible use of sanctions for private enrichment poses a threat not only to a single business but also to Ukraine's international reputation.
He explained that Ukraine seeks sanctions from international partners against Russian business people, accomplices of the occupation, and persons who help the aggressor circumvent restrictions. At the same time, each case of abusing sanction mechanisms can undermine trust in Ukrainian evidence.
"It gives true accomplices of Russia the opportunity to claim that sanction lists are compiled for someone's commercial interests. And the harm from this extends far beyond a single company," Tuka summed up.
At the same time, the version he presented about a possible link between pressure on Parimatch and the imposition of sanctions needs to be confirmed.
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "Санкції проти Parimatch могли стати наслідком відмови платити силовикам: Тука звернув увагу на справу Артема Шила". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: StopKor.