The ‘Midas’ case: the NABU has not ruled out further charges
This was stated by Oleksandr Abakumov, head of the first main detective division of the NABU, in an interview with the “Ye Pytannya” channel.
Abakumov made it clear that NABU does not consider the circle of suspects in the case to be definitively established. According to him, the bureau is still examining a large volume of materials and continues to gather evidence regarding specific individuals within the scope of this investigation.
He explained that the investigation still has several separate lines of inquiry, including international legal assistance, asset freezes and investigative actions in other jurisdictions. This is precisely why NABU is not yet ready to draw a line under the case and name all possible participants in the scheme. At the same time, the bureau is optimistic that the proceedings will be concluded by the end of the summer.
Separately, Abakumov emphasised that the detectives are not yet ready to publicly name the ultimate beneficiaries of the scheme. His position boils down to the fact that what matters to the investigation is not internal conviction, but the volume of evidence that can be included in the case file and stand up in court.
What NABU says about Mindich’s extradition
According to Abakumov, two weeks ago NABU submitted all the materials for Timur Mindich’s extradition to the Office of the Prosecutor General. At the time of the interview, they were still awaiting the Prosecutor General’s signature.
The investigator emphasised that Israel is one of the most difficult countries for extradition. To initiate this procedure, the Ukrainian side must effectively hand over almost the entire criminal case file to the Israeli side. That is why, he said, NABU has prepared and translated a large volume of evidence to substantiate the grounds for suspicion against the two suspects currently in Israel.
Abakumov also cautioned that one should not count on a simple and swift extradition. He recalled that there have been instances where Israel has extradited its citizens to Ukraine, but these are exceptions rather than standard practice.
How the investigation uncovered the scheme and what it says about the suspect’s flight
Abakumov explained that the scheme came to the attention of the NABU following complaints from businesses about artificial obstacles to contract payments. According to him, contractors were unable to receive payment for work carried out on time and without hindrance, and restrictions on competition in tenders became one of the indicators of possible illegal activity for the investigators. According to Abakumov, there was no formal complainant in the case who would immediately agree to confirm everything.
He also said that the individuals involved had come to the NABU’s attention earlier, but at that time the bureau did not have a sufficient understanding of the mechanics of the crime or the evidence base to document it properly. It was only later, once the scheme had been understood, that the detectives began to take the investigation to the next level.
Speaking about Mindich’s escape, Abakumov described it as a setback for the investigation, but at the same time noted that during the searches, detectives had obtained significantly more evidence than they could have secured had they attempted to detain him at the border. According to him, the day before his departure, Mindich had booked a special, albeit publicly available, but expensive transfer. NABU is currently conducting a separate investigation into exactly how he travelled to the border, whether he had an escort, and whether there was any assistance in crossing the border.
At the same time, Abakumov stated explicitly that he does not consider NABU staff to be the source of any potential leak. He added that the bureau constantly operates under heightened scrutiny from other law enforcement agencies, but he has no evidence that it was they who tipped off Mindich.
Is Mindich himself needed for the investigation?
Another key point from the interview is that NABU does not consider Mindich’s testimony to be critically necessary for the conclusion of the case. Abakumov stated that the bureau already has sufficient evidence to bring the case to a close. In particular, the investigation has examined the group’s accounts, which, according to him, reflect payments, cash accumulation and allow one to understand who received what and in what amounts.
That is precisely why, according to the detective, the bureau is not interested in any out-of-court negotiations with Mindich regarding possible “deals” in exchange for information. NABU’s position boils down to the fact that bail is determined by the court, and the evidence in the case already allows proceedings to move forward without such negotiations.
As a reminder, businessman Timur Mindich, who is implicated in the ‘Midas’ case concerning embezzlement in the energy sector, has stated his readiness to return to Ukraine and remain in custody on condition of ‘fair bail’.
