Mindich’s associates discussed whom to appoint in Svyrydenko’s new government and who should replace the ambassador to the United States

Participants in businessman Tymur Mindich’s corruption scheme were deciding whom to appoint to Yuliia Svyrydenko’s new Cabinet of Ministers and whom to replace Oksana Markarova with as ambassador to the United States.

Their dialogues were read out by a Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) prosecutor at the hearing on selecting a preventive measure for one of the suspects in the Mindich case, Ihor Myroniuk.

For the ambassadorship, members of the circle considered Herman Halushchenko, who ultimately became justice minister (recall that this morning he was suspended due to his presence on the published tapes).

“Look, in any case I’m replacing Markarova; I have several candidates—all very worthy, close people. I’ll send the candidates, and you over there will choose. Shmyh (apparently then–Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal — Ed.) refused, you know why. Because they’ll 100% block it,” the prosecutor read from the suspects’ conversations.

They then discussed candidates for the post of energy minister.

“And the third option with oversight of energy and ecology—either merging the two ministries, or keeping two ministries like this. But then the question remains: she either stays here and someone else goes there, or she goes there. But everyone converges here that for us this (i.e., energy—prosecutor’s note) is the more important position. And Yulia (apparently Svyrydenko — Ed.) wants to attach this area to the Economy Ministry. And the girl wants to drag in as deputy this Oleh; for some reason she really likes him,” the prosecutor quoted from the wiretap transcript.

As a reminder, during the investigation it was established that in July Myroniuk conducted the job interview for the current energy minister, Svitlana Hrynchuk, for her position.