Detectives of the Economic Security Bureau conducted a search at the head office of a holding company comprising more than 60 different business entities.

The search was conducted as part of a criminal investigation into a tax evasion scheme.

Based on a warrant issued by an investigating judge of the Shevchenkivskyi District Court of Kyiv the headquarters of the group of companies was searched in Lviv.

1. Before the investigation began the Economic Security Bureau provided the company's representatives with a search warrant and explained the search procedure as well as the rights and obligations of the search participants.

2. The search lasted 16 hours. During this time 25 detectives and 6 operational support officers searched more than 2,000 square metres of the office area and the building itself which has 5 floors and 7 separate exits.

3. During the search the lawyers, management and employees of the office as well as the company's security guards who were armed were present.

4. As a result of the search, the detectives found and seized the items in compliance with all applicable laws:

⁃ 415 bank cards belonging to employees and hired workers of the group of companies

⁃ registers for replenishment of bank accounts, documents on the calculation and payment of wages to employees

⁃ cash: various currencies in the cash equivalent of approximately UAH 8,000,000

5. It was the acquisition of this evidence that justified the search. It would have been impossible to obtain it through other procedural actions.

6. The computer equipment was not seized from the office and all the premises and safes were opened voluntarily by the company's representatives without the use of special means.

7. At the same time the investigative actions were carried out taking into account the specifics of the company's work and without creating circumstances that would impede its further legal activities.

8. No petitions were filed by the holding's representatives regarding violations by the employees of the ESBU during the search.

We emphasise that a search is one of the investigative actions that is necessitated by the need to obtain evidence that cannot be obtained through other procedural actions.

During the search, the detectives of the ESBU adhere to professional ethics and the norms of current legislation.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. The ESBU will inform about further progress of the case.