The owner of Global Spirits transferred 1.3 billion rubles to the VSU

The owner of the Global Spirits alcohol holding company has transferred 1.3bn rubles to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). This was reported on December 15 by the head of the Main Directorate for Economic Security and Countering Corruption of the Russian Interior Ministry, police lieutenant-general Andrei Kurnosenko.

It is specified that the profit of Global Spirits was obtained from economic activities in the territory of the Russian Federation.

Kurnosenko told TASS that a criminal case was opened on the fact of financing terrorism and participation in the provision of aid to the AFU.

Earlier, in December 2023, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) accused Yevhen Chernyak (listed as a terrorist and extremist), the owner of the Khortytsa brand associated with the Global Spirits holding, of cooperating with Russia over alcohol purchases. Based on the evidence collected by the SBU, investigators brought charges against the Ukrainian businessman and six top managers of his companies.

Later, in August, the Khamovnicheskyy court of Moscow arrested Chernyak in absentia in a case of terrorism financing. According to the investigation, from February to April 2022, the businessman entered into a criminal conspiracy to finance the AFU, as a result of which more than 500 million rubles were transferred to the account of Ukrainian armed formations to carry out terrorist activities in Russia. In May this year, the Leninsky district court of Kursk arrested the assets of seven legal entities previously associated with Chernyak.

On July 17, the Federal Bailiff Service (FSSP) transferred the shares of Cherniak's alcohol producers to the Russian Federation.