Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree on 13 November imposing three-year sanctions on his long-time associate Timur Mindych and businessman Oleksandr Zuckerman, the Kyiv Independent reports.

The two are accused in a massive corruption case at the state nuclear company Enerhoatom, where investigators say some $100 million in money was laundered.

Both Mindich and Zuckerman fled the country before the charges were brought.

The sanctions were previously approved by Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said the government initiated the process and presented the proposals at an extraordinary cabinet meeting. According to Zelensky, both men are citizens of Israel.

Meanwhile, the NABU anti-corruption agency has charged eight people with bribery, abuse of power and illegal enrichment. It has also released tapes in which the suspects, using aliases, talk about commissions for deals with Enerhoatom.

According to investigators, Mindic was the mastermind of the scheme, while Zuckerman ran the back office to launder the money.

Other senior officials are also implicated in the case, including former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov, Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk, Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko and former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

(lud)