Investigation establishes links between intelligence agency agent and first deputy head of SBU department

According to NABU and SAP materials, facts of interaction between intelligence agency agent Andriy Osipov and Oleksandr Kovalchuk, the first deputy head of the SBU Department for the Protection of National Statehood, have been established. As the investigation determined, negotiations took place between them regarding the mechanism for returning mobile phones to Russian citizen Kuznetsov and the procedure for conducting procedural actions.

Demand for funds and promises regarding deportation

According to the obtained materials, Osipov demanded a sum of one million US dollars from Kuznetsov. In exchange for the funds, the agent promised that the Security Service of Ukraine would not carry out the citizen's deportation to Russia. It was in the context of this case that Osipov maintained contact with SBU official Kovalchuk.

The investigation claims that the main topic of discussion was how to officially formalise the return of the phones to Kuznetsov. The aim was for this to happen without his presence at the preliminary hearing and without the conduct of actual interrogations.

Fragments of recorded dialogue

A portion of the conversation between Osipov and the SBU employee has been included in the case materials:

Osipov: «Саня, привет. Ты меня слышишь? Скажи мне, пожалуйста, снова быстро. О Саше (червоний — Кузнєцов), ти розумієш... Йому просто потрібно офіційно прийти, як вони його проситимуть, забрати свої телефони, так чи що?» (Sanya, hi. Can you hear me? Please tell me again quickly. About Sasha (red — Kuznetsov), do you understand... He just needs to officially come, as they will ask him, to pick up his phones, right or what?)

SBU employee: «Ну, нам потрібно його допитати... Просто коли він піде, попередьте мене» (Well, we need to interrogate him... Just when he leaves, let me know).

Osipov: «Так, щоб я міг контролювати цю історію і все це» (Yes, so that I can control this story and all of this).

SBU employee: «То я можу контролювати цю історію і все це. Приходьте до мене, нам потрібно поставити вам кілька запитань» (Then I can control this story and all of this. Come to me, we need to ask you a few questions).

Links with other SBU leaders

In addition to contacts with Kovalchuk, the materials mention Osipov's links with former SBU head Vasyl Maliuk and Serhiy Duka, the first deputy head of the department for the protection of national statehood.

It was also recorded that Osipov discussed with Duka the issue of appointing Volodymyr Kompanichenko to the position of head of the SBU department in Zhytomyr region. It is worth noting that Kompanichenko was previously notified of suspicion of committing a corruption crime.

Along with the publication, a photograph showing Oleksandr Kovalchuk has been released.