The Power Within: The Kyiv Independent’s first-ever magazine. Be among the first to get it.

pre-order now
Skip to content
Edit post

Investigation: Top official's brother gets massive discount on real estate, pays with unknown funds

by The Kyiv Independent news desk February 15, 2023 4:36 PM 1 min read
This audio is created with AI assistance

Ihor Smirnov, the brother of the deputy head of the President’s Office Andriy Smirnov, allegedly bought properties at a price significantly lower than the market with funds over his living standards, an investigation by Ukrainska Pravda revealed.

The investigation says that Ihor Smirnov bought a 100-square-meter flat in Lviv worth $164,000, for roughly $32,000, as well as 10 acres in the Carpathians for $290, while an acre alone can cost up to $3,000.

The brothers could not clearly explain where Ihor Smirnov got the funds. Andriy Smirnov said his brother doesn’t officially work anywhere, while Ihor Smirnov claims it was coming from reselling cars.

The investigation claimed the properties could have been underestimated to avoid paying taxes or Andriy Smirnov could launder money that way.

The investigation also alleges that Andriy Smirnov could have purchased or received some of these things at a significant discount for himself and put his brother’s name on them.

Andriy Smirnov dismissed the accusations of wrongdoing.

Investigators search Kolomoisky, Avakov, incumbent top officials in unprecedented raid

News Feed

8:08 PM

Ukrainians react to US proposal of recognizing Crimea as Russian.

The U.S. media outlet Axios reported on April 23 that the U.S. President Donald Trump administration's final proposal for ending the Russia-Ukraine war included the U.S. de jure recognizing Russia's annexation of Crimea and de facto recognizing its control of other occupied Ukrainian territories. We asked Kyiv residents for their reactions to the U.S. proposal.
7:21 PM  (Updated: )

Trump says 'nobody is asking' Ukraine to recognize Crimea as Russian.

"Nobody is asking (President Volodymyr) Zelensky to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory, but if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?" U.S. President Donald Trump wrote.
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.