Director of the National Anti-corruption Bureau Semen Krivonos confirmed, that his department carried out investigative measures against the former deputy head of the Office of the President, Rostislav Shurma.
Searches were conducted at Shurma’s residence near Munich. Kryvonos noted that the criminal proceedings against Rostyslav Shurma are being investigated, but he did not disclose the details of the course of the case.
“We are waiting for separate information from the German law enforcement officers within the framework of our international cooperation. In order not to harm this cooperation with the law enforcement officers of foreign countries, I will not comment in detail, but I can say that this case is actively moving forward.” Kryvonos summarized.
We will remind, Rostislav Shurma in 2012-2019 held the position of general director of the Zaporizhstal plant. He was also a member of the supervisory board of the Ukroboronprom state concern. In 2019, he ran for the Verkhovna Rada from the “Opposition Bloc” party at number 6 on the list as a member of the party.
In 2015, he was number one on the lists for the Zaporizhzhia regional and city councils from the same political force, but he refused the mandates and headed the party organization in Zaporizhzhia. In 2010, he was elected deputy of the Donetsk Regional Council of the 6th convocation from the “Party of Regions”.
In August 2023, Bihus.Info journalists made public investigation, according to which SE “Guaranteed Buyer” paid UAH 320 million for electricity produced by solar plants in the temporarily occupied territories. According to journalists, among the recipients were companies belonging to the brother of the deputy head of the OPU Oleg Shurma and Ruslan Bozhko, a former subordinate of Rostyslav Shurma. The investigation indicates that the paid electricity probably did not enter the Ukrainian energy system, but the stations received compensation under the “green tariff” until the summer of 2023.
In February 2024, the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NACP) drew up an administrative report on Shurma. He was accused of using official powers for personal interests and for the benefit of his family. According to the NAZK, in 2022, Shurma initiated the creation of the Electric Power Industry Committee at the OPU, the meeting of which he chaired. Representatives of the Ministry of Energy, NEC “Ukrenergo”, SE “Market Operator” were involved in the work of the committee.
On September 3, 2024, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, dismissed Rostyslav Shurma from the post of Deputy Head of the Office of the President, which he had held since November 2021. His responsibility was the economic direction of the OPU’s work.
