25.11.2024 Arbitrariness of judges Cybercrimes Declaration Money laundering

Should the Ukrainian Armed Forces return millions of dollars to Russia?

Україну змушують виплатити 2,6 мільярда Пуніну з РФ та його казино Pin-UP — Радіо ТРЕК

The story of how the funds transferred to the ARMA and used to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine must now be returned to the Russians.

On October 25, Kyiv’s Pecherskyi District Court made one of the most high-profile decisions of the year. Judge Svitlana Smyk ruled to lift the seizure of UAH 2.6 billion belonging to Pin-UP online casino, a Russian business owned by Dmitry Punin. Now the money has to be returned, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine owe the Russians $65 million.

At the same time, the decision was made with such speed that it directly indicates the judge’s interest and the need to quickly “close the issue.”

On October 25 (Friday), Smyk not only holds a hearing, but also manages to issue a ruling and a resolution at once. This never happens on a day-to-day basis. This allowed Pin-UP to promptly receive the document and claim the funds.

The ruling included a ban on appeal, effectively making the decision final.

Who is Pin-UP?

Pin-UP beneficiary Dmitry Punin is a Russian businessman who, despite the sanctions, not only continues to work in Ukraine but also actively influences the decision-making of government agencies.

The head of the ARMA, Olena Duma, directly called Pin-UP a Russian casino, but, according to her, the NBU and the Ministry of Justice refused to impose sanctions on Pin-UP. It is interesting to know what caused such a reaction of the state authorities.

Question to the state representatives: If Pin-Up is not a Russian business, why were its funds seized? If it is a Russian asset, why have not sanctions been imposed on the company and its owners?

Pin-Up is represented in Ukraine through a number of legal entities associated with Russian citizens and companies:

  • TURBO.UA LLC – founder until 2022, Russian citizen Dmitry Punin. The company has now been re-registered as a Cypriot legal entity PIPROSE HOLDING, which is also controlled by Punin and his wife Inna Ilyina.
  • VICTORIA-SOFT LLC is an operator that operated under the Pin-Up brand. The license was canceled due to the discovery of inaccurate information about the lack of ties with Russian business.
  • UKR GAME TECHNOLOGIES LLC, the Ukrainian subsidiary of Pin-Up, has a license from KRAIL, despite numerous accusations of links to Russian capital.
  • “GURUFLOW TEAM LTD is a company founded by Dmytro Punin and his wife. It has been re-registered to other legal entities, but remains under their control.

Thus, Punin created a scheme to disguise the origin of the business. Through fictitious re-registrations to Cyprus-based PIPROSE HOLDING and MONAK LIMITED, the companies continue to operate in Ukraine, earning millions in profits.

CRAIL’s attempts to protect its reputation

Despite the high-profile accusations, KRAIL continues to issue licenses to companies with ties to Russian business. This calls into question the effectiveness of the regulator and its head, Rudyi, and their impartiality, and suggests a bias toward Russian business.

Judge Smyk is on the lookout for Russian business

As we wrote earlier, Pechersk Court Judge Svitlana Smyk is increasingly becoming a news heroine due to controversial decisions favoring Russian business and odious individuals such as Rabinovych, Medvedchuk, and Stolar.

Thanks to very successful decisions in favor of the traitors, Smyk managed to build her own empire of wealth, registered, according to the old scheme, in her family’s name.

For example, Smyk’s own declaration looks rather modest:

  • Two apartments (one inherited, the other privatized in 2021 as a service apartment).
  • No personal transportation.
  • Cash: USD 70,000 and UAH 205,000.
  • Bank accounts: UAH 294,000 and USD 839.

She does not even have her own car, but constantly uses a 2016 Mercedes Benz GLE 400 4 MATIC registered to her son’s partner Anna Drych. This car is listed in the declaration, but the source of its financing remains questionable.

And now an analysis of the Smyk family’s property. The judge’s son is Oleh Movchun:

  • Co-owner of the Workshop sports club chain.
  • Owns a 2023 LEXUS LX 500D and a 2019 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER PRADO 150.
  • Owns a one-room apartment in Sofiyivska Borshchahivka and a land plot near Kyiv.

Anna Drych is her son’s partner:

  • An apartment in Kyiv with an area of 158.7 square meters, where Svitlana Smyk herself lives.
  • Real estate:
    An apartment in Kyiv (82 sq.m.) with a parking space.
    An apartment in Odesa (48.6 sq.m.).
    Non-residential premises in Kyiv (70.5 sq.m. and 44.5 sq.m.).
  • Vehicle fleet:
    MERCEDES-BENZ GLE 400 4 MATIC 2016 (used by the judge).
    MERCEDES-BENZ E 400 2017 and E 63 AMG 2018.

In addition, in July 2024, the judge’s son Oleh Movchun received a deferral from mobilization. Moreover, during the full-scale invasion, he traveled abroad several times, and the circumstances of these trips raise questions.

Svitlana Smyk also made 10 trips abroad, information about which is still being collected by journalists and NGOs.

The judge’s relatives’ assets and lifestyle raise suspicions. A network of clubs, expensive cars, real estate, and regular trips abroad against the backdrop of court decisions in favor of traitors raise doubts about Svitlana Smyk’s integrity.

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