After reading the title of this article, a thoughtful reader will immediately ask: what, exactly, unites these three phenomena, how are they connected? The connection between Shokin and the "diamond prosecutors" is clear. Much has been said about it. For example, Sobolev, chairman of the parliamentary anti-corruption committee, who is well-informed about this case, stated that the detained prosecutors are linked to Shokin. This predetermines the current situation with the investigation of the most high-profile prosecutorial case. The Prosecutor General's position on this case, even on the surface, appears purely lawyerly, not to mention what's happening inside the prosecutorial establishment. However, recently, Deputy Prosecutor General Sakvarelidze stated that in this case, "Viktor Nikolayevich publicly promised to do everything possible to punish the perpetrators."
Just yesterday, such a statement from the Prosecutor General's recent counterpart would have raised eyebrows. Today, it's no longer the case, as sources privy to the GPU apparatus claim that there's now complete mutual understanding between Shokin and Sakvarelidze. Sakvarelidze's employers are said to have explained quite clearly to him that it's now much more profitable for Georgian representatives in Ukraine to remain in power and "engage in reforms" than, for example, to sell tangerines, as was previously the case (even wholesale, through the Odessa port). Moreover, both Shokin and Sakvarelidze are part of the same, so to speak, "reform team." The latter is based on Bankova Street, so reformers must strictly follow the instructions coming to Reznitskaya Street from the country's main thoroughfare. Sakvarelidze is readily and warmly received on Bankova Street, not as often as Shokin, but always when necessary.
As for the "punishment of the guilty" promised by Shokin in the "diamond prosecutors" case, it is already being implemented. According to available information, the head of the department and two procedural leaders who initiated and led the case at the Prosecutor General's Office have been dismissed. Now, their place will be taken by "our own" procedural leaders. Such personnel changes could be the next step in the systemic collapse of the "diamond prosecutors" case. It could lead to a fundamental shift in the prosecutor's office's position in court—formally supporting the prosecution, but in reality defending the "diamond prosecutors." Sakvarelidze is certainly well aware of this, but for obvious reasons, he remains silent about it.
The Dumchev Era»
As for Dumchev, until recently this public and political figure was widely known only in relatively narrow circles. His era began in the midst of the election campaign in the summer of 2015, when he emerged from the "political underground" with his party, "Rukh za Reformy," and set his sights on the Kyiv mayor's seat. Long before the campaign began, Kyiv was simply forgotten by Dumchev's billboards of all sorts: they featured, among other things, rhinoceroses and monkeys. Against this backdrop, Dumchev looked quite appealing. For example, on the one announcing the end of previous eras and the arrival of the "Dumchev era."
Immediately, the media began to flood with information about this new-era figure. And it wasn't exactly flattering. Even the article titles attested to this: "Dumchev as Yarema and Medvedchuk's Rhinoceros," "Corrupt 'Rhinoceros.' Mafia-style Populism Is Seeking Power in Kyiv," and "The Dumchev Phenomenon, or How to Burn 40 Million."
The publications indicated that Dumchev is the chairman of the supervisory board of Premium Bank, which the NBU lists as a bank with opaque ownership. He was also linked to another bank, Classic, with both banks being labeled as fictitious, essentially "envelopes" that were part of the shadow capital cashing system under the Party of Regions.
Experts estimate that even before the official start of the election campaign, Dumchev spent over $10 million on campaigning, and his total election expenses amounted to over $40 million. By investing such funds, Dumchev seriously intended to become Kyiv's mayor. In any case, he secured his place in the second round on billboards, which were paid for up to and including November 15. However, things didn't work out. Kyiv residents didn't buy the slogan "vote thoughtfully," and Dumchev lost his bid for mayor's office on Khreshchatyk.
Dumchev himself has been linked by the media to various figures: one of the leaders of the Party of Regions, Tigipkom, Putin's godfather Medvedchuk, and former Prosecutor General Yarema. He was also allegedly connected to the "Family." During the election campaign, Mykhailo Podolyak, former political strategist for Levochkin, worked on the "Rukh za Reformy" project. Podolyak, who became the head of the Kyiv headquarters of the "Petro Poroshenko Bloc" in early 2015, became the head of the Kyiv headquarters of the "Petro Poroshenko Bloc."
It's possible that Dumchev was connected to all of the individuals named. However, nowhere was there even a mention of another connection of his—a very interesting and promising one. This concerns Prosecutor General Shokin.
Dumchev and Shokin
Apparently, this connection was very mysterious. That's why it manifested itself not in Ukraine, but where it was least expected—far beyond the borders of their native country.
On June 27, 2015, a plane carrying V. Shokin landed at Los Angeles International Airport. Two other Ukrainian citizens arrived in the United States on the same flight, and they listed the same U.S. destination address as Shokin. Shokin listed his U.S. contact as Yevgeny Afineevsky, born October 21, 1972, president of New Generation Films Inc., 304 N. Edinburgh Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90048. He was born in Russia and is an Israeli citizen. Afineevsky received legal permanent resident status in the United States in 2005 and became a U.S. citizen in 2011. He is also known as "Zhenya Afineevsky." Incidentally, it seems nothing short of coincidental that on November 21, 2015, Poroshenko awarded Yevgeny Afineevsky, director of the documentary "Winter on Fire," the Ivan Mazepa Cross.
Two other Ukrainian citizens who arrived in the United States on the same flight as Shokin were Sergei Dumchev, born March 18, 1970, and Oksana Hrynevych, born February 14, 1965. Only Dumchev, who was carrying a large amount of foreign currency, was subject to customs inspection. Dumchev and Hrynevych, who arrived with Shokin on the same flight, were taken to the same hotel as Shokin. They all had the same scheduled return flight date: July 4, 2015. However, all three did not fly to Ukraine that day, instead rescheduling their return flight from the United States for July 8.
This suggests that the aforementioned trio of Ukrainian citizens—Shokin, Dumchev, and Hrynevych—not only traveled together but were united by something personally significant. One of the purposes of Shokin's stay in the United States may have been to "cleanse" his reputation. According to available information, for this purpose, Shokin hired a well-known American firm that had previously worked on cultivating the positive image of several Ukrainian politicians, including Yanukovych.
It's worth noting that V. Shokin (and the Shokin family in general) are very fond of the United States in general and Los Angeles in particular. This visit to the United States was Shokin's second in 2015 – his first was from March 7 to 20. Alina Shokina has loved the United States since the early 2000s. She also visited Los Angeles in July 2015. She is known to have traveled from LAX to Panama City on July 14, 2015, and returned to Los Angeles on July 24, 2015. Another Ukrainian citizen, Viktoria Shokina, arrived in Los Angeles on November 16, 2014, and departed the United States on April 15, 2015. When Victoria Shokina arrived in the United States on November 16, 2014, she listed her address as 4724, Kester Avenue #402, Los Angeles, CA.
Certainly, this information needs to be verified. This should be done particularly by anti-corruption law enforcement agencies, as well as the relevant parliamentary committee, to determine whether the Shokins own real estate in the United States, have bank accounts, etc. It is believed that the American side would be happy to respond to the relevant inquiries from the Ukrainian authorities. It would be helpful if MP Leshchenko, who has extensive experience successfully investigating the exploits of "our people" in the United States, were to participate in the investigation of this information. He likely has his own sources there and the ability to obtain relevant documents.
In this case, we're interested in the connection between Ukrainian overseas tourists and the "diamond prosecutors." And it's a very direct one.
"Ours" in the USA and the "diamond prosecutors"
This connection is evident, first and foremost, in the fact that the "diamond prosecutors" case was only possible because Prosecutor General Shokin was outside of Ukraine during its implementation. It is now known where Shokin was and with whom at that time. Ultimately, Ukrainians should be grateful to Dumchev and Hrynevych for "extricating" Shokin from the country during that time, allowing the SBU and the Prosecutor General's Office to apprehend the "diamond prosecutors" red-handed.
They say that upon receiving the first information from Ukraine about the detention of his closest subordinates, Shokin was in shock. The news simply stunned him. He didn't understand what was happening. Just as the wife of the detained Kyiv Oblast Deputy Prosecutor Korniets couldn't understand it either. She texted Oksana Hrynevych the message "oksanashoproizkhodit" asking for help when investigators and SBU officers came to search the home of the "diamond prosecutor."
Without a doubt, Shokin's loyal first deputy, Guzyr, also informed him of the ongoing "lawlessness." It was most likely after hearing from Guzyr that Shokin decided to cancel his flight from the US on Saturday, July 4—the very day the "diamond prosecutors" were detained in Ukraine and their workplaces and residences were searched.
Shokin decided to postpone his departure from the US until he could figure out what was happening in the Prosecutor General's Office and, most importantly, why. Guzyr was given instructions to "resolve the situation." And he began to do so. Several criminal cases were immediately opened against investigators and SBU officers who had participated in exposing the "diamond prosecutors." They were subjected to threats, and some literally lost their official identification—their identification cards were simply torn up before their eyes.
Only four days later (Wednesday, July 8), when the situation had been more or less clarified and brought under control with Guzyr's help, did Shokin decide to return to Ukraine. What followed was a propaganda television image of the President reconciling Shokin and Sakvarelidze, continued pressure on the investigators and SBU officers handling the "diamond prosecutors" case, the inpatient treatment of one of them in a clinic run by Grinevich, delays in transferring the case to court, a change in the procedural leaders in the case, and so on.
“Run, Vitya, run!”
On the eve of US Vice President Biden's visit, billboards appeared in Kyiv with the slogan "Beat, rabbit, beat!" The authors intended them to be addressed to the current prime minister, who was scheduled to report to parliament on his one-year tenure. According to UP, the billboards were commissioned by S. Dumchev's "Rukh za Reformy" party.
If this is true, then Sergei Alexandrovich should have been concerned about the fate of someone closer to him – Viktor Nikolaevich – before the arrival of the distinguished American guest. The fact that Shokin is close to Dumchev (or vice versa) is confirmed by information about Shokin's envoys to National Bank head Gontareva, who requested the resuscitation of two of Dumchev's companies. Apparently, these are the aforementioned banks.
While Prosecutor General Shokin will resolve all his problems in Ukraine with the powerful support of President Poroshenko, this will be much more difficult in the West, including the United States. And the fact that Poroshenko rejected Biden's request to dismiss Shokin from his position as Prosecutor General (under his own responsibility, as he put it) doesn't mean the Americans have calmed down and backed off. Poroshenko's persistence could cause mild irritation, which could gradually lead to the implementation of the information at hand.
Based on this, Mr. Dumchev should quietly (without billboards) advise his friend on his American trip: "Bezhi, Vitya, bezhi!" Or maybe even: "Bezhimo, Vitya, bezhimo!"
The problem, however, is where to flee. The United States, where Russia's nouveau riche typically hide their assets, is dangerous—you could end up like Lazarenko. Russia, by and large, is the only option left. Though an aggressor, it's akin in spirit. Especially since so much has been done for it—so many cases involving the "Family," whose members are hiding in Russia—how much, pardon me, has been wasted. And it seems our government policy is once again oriented toward the North. Remember how it was under Yanukovych—we trumpeted European integration, but in reality, we were merging with Russia? It's possible the same thing is happening now: we're busy "implementing" reforms according to European standards, while separately "messing around" with Putin. But in any case, to paraphrase a well-known Jewish joke, we need to flee!
In topic: Dumchev. The Era of Political Déjà Vu in Kyiv
Sergey Nikonov, "ORD"
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