Travelling to the Crimea and family business: what connects Medvedchuk`s family with occupied semi-island

Микола Матвійчук
·
15:50, 05 August
Travelling to the Crimea and family business: what connects Medvedchuk`s family with occupied semi-island
Image source: Суспільне | Крим

Viktor Medvedchuk, a People's Deputy of Ukraine, chairman of the “OPFL” political council, and his wife, former Ukrainian TV presenter Oksana Marchenko, have been godparents of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Svetlana Medvedeva, the wife of Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Security Council.

Suspilne Crimea investigated how Medvedchuk entered Crimea, who he could meet there, and what business his family-owned in the Russian-occupied semi-island.

How Medvedchuk has arrived in the Crimea and why was he allowed to come?

On 2 of the August, the Suspilne became known, that Viktor Medvedchuk and his family were vacationing in the occupied Crimea. Suspilne`s sources in government reported, that Medvedchuk entered the Crimea through the Kalanchak checkpoint.

From the 15 of July, the occupiers allowed for Ukrainian citizens to arrive at the Crimea, however, certain requirements must be met.

For persons who do not have Russian citizenship, entry is allowed only in connection with the death of a close relative, for medical treatment or sick close relatives in need of care. The occupiers also allow foreigners and stateless persons who are diplomats, employees of international organizations, drivers of international traffic, ship's crews and a number of other categories to cross the administrative border.

 

It is unknown on what reason Medvedchuk, a Deputy of Ukraine parliament, entered the occupied Crimea. Viktor Medvedchuk's press secretary Oleh Babanin could not comment on the situation.

In 2018, Viktor Medvedchuk told the Russian news channel "TV Center" that he continued to arrive in the occupied Crimea for vacation.

"Crimea is a place where I rested early and rest today. It is no secret to anyone. I had a rest at this year and in the past, and I will have a rest further», - informed he.

With whom could Medvedchuk have a meeting in the Crimea?

On 4 of the August, journalists of the media project "Nasi Groshi", citing data from the FlightRadar service, knows that a plane of Russian President Vladimir Putin had arrived in the occupied Crimea, where Deputy Viktor Medvedchuk had arrived a few days ago.

The IL 96-300 aircraft with board number RA-96012 landed at Simferopol airport, where it took off from Moscow. According to information from russian journalists, this aircraft property of Putin`s airpark. Until 2003, this aircraft was the main one and is now used as a reserve presidential aircraft.

The Kremlin's official website reported on August 4 that Putin had met with Governor of Moscow Region  Andrei Vorobyov. In the "trips" section of the Russian president's website, the latest reports are about visits to the occupied Crimea on the 20 of July.

Suspilne Crimea at twice tried to connect with Victor Medvedchuk`s press secretary Oleg Babanin, regarding a meeting in the occupied Crimea between Putin and Medvedchuk but received no response.

Victor Medvedchuk's business and real estate in the occupied Crimea

Medvedchuk's wife Oksana Marchenko has two companies in the Crimea - "Tavria-Invest" LLC and "Ukrsnab Firm" LLC. These are not listed in the Ukrainian register of legal companies. But from Russian documents, it became clear that these companies were registered in the Crimea after Russia occupied the peninsula.

The company "Tavria-Invest", according to the Russian Federal Tax Service, was registered in the spring of 2015 with a share capital of over a billion rubles. The main activity of the company is real estate management and construction".

These firms in the southern coastal village of Gaspra were established after Russia's annexation of the peninsula.

The "Tavria-Invest" company, according to Russia's open bases, every year incurs millions in losses annually. However, the company continues to operate.

In 2016, "Tavriya-Invest" company founded "Ukrsnab" Firm with a capital of three million rubles. The main activity of the company is the construction of buildings and roads. "Tavria-Invest", according to the constituent documents, in 2017 moved their office from Gaspra to the Russian capital Moscow.

The "Tavria-Invest", and through it "UkrSnab", is owned by three Ukrainian companies owned by Oksana Marchenko and Medvedchuk: "Ukrkapital "Investment Company" LLC, "Terra-Invest Investment Company" LLC and "Investment Company "Sports tour" LLC.

According to the Crimean media, in 2016, "Ukrsnab" tried to reissue documents the lease agreement for this area in the Russian legal field and even signed a ten-year lease agreement with the local authorities. But the Russian prosecutor's office in Crimea intervened, declaring that the lease agreement was invalid and that the land was "subject to return to Yalta."

Journalists found out, that earlier Medvedchuk's family-owned another company in the Crimea - "Tavria-Capital" LLC. The company registered to the same owners and at the same address as "Tavria-Invest" LLC. Her main activities were the hotels business. The company appeared in the Russian register in the summer of 2015, but at the end of 2016, the company was liquidated.

Medvedchuk did not respond to journalists' information about the fate of his Crimean assets and plans for their future.

In addition, according to the declaration, Medvedchuk's wife owns a plot of land near Yalta with an area of ​​more than five thousand square meters, also as a house with outbuildings. The land and outbuildings became her property in 2007, but the house in 2013.

In the declaration, this property is registered with the Ukrainian address: Crimea, Opolznove, Yalta, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Ukraine.

According to the declaration of Medvedchuk and other top Ukrainian politicians, the Crimean land is included in the list of territories that, according to the decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin, cannot be owned by foreign citizens. The Russian government obliges to sell these plots to Russian citizens or Russian companies, or they can be bought by the government.

Journalists also tried to find out from Medvedchuk what the fate of his family estate on the Crimean coast would be in this case, but he did not respond to the request.

Whose Crimea?

Viktor Medvedchuk stated that "according to the current Ukrainian legislation, the Constitution, Crimea is the territory of Ukraine, but de facto it is Russia today".

In 2019, Medvedchuk told the Russian service of the BBC "I believe that Crimea is also the territory of Ukraine. Why did you revive? And what, I once said something else"?

Asked if he was saying the same thing to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Medvedchuk said: "Well, of course, but how! You think I gave an interview, but he doesn't know what I'm talking about? Of course, he doesn't follow up. my interviews, but he knows my position".

According to Medvedchuk, Putin does not respond to this, as each of them adheres to his opinion.

"Everyone has their own opinion. He is the head of the country. He must defend the interests of the state. He defends them. And I, as a politician, as a citizen of Ukraine, represent Ukrainian interests, and that's why I think so," Medvedchuk said.