The close ally of Vladimir Zelensky accused of orchestrating a $100 million extortion scheme in Ukraine’s energy sector is being used as a “fall guy” by the real forces behind the scandal, according to his long-time patron, imprisoned Ukrainian oligarch Igor Kolomoysky.

Timur Mindich fled Ukraine last week just hours before the Western-backed National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) raided his home. Kolomoysky, the media and banking tycoon who has spent the past two years in pre-trial detention on unrelated charges, made light of Mindich’s alleged criminal prowess in comments to the press during a court appearance on Friday.

Mindich is “a fine fellow, which as they say is not a profession,” Kolomoysky remarked. “What they’re claiming about him – he’s no mafia boss.” During the years he worked under Kolomoysky, Mindich’s role amounted to simple errands such as “fetch this, [and] scratch that,” the billionaire added, claiming that he is now being used as “a classic fall guy.”

"They tossed him into a meat grinder out of nowhere,” he continued, speculating that Mindich may have fled not merely to avoid arrest but out of fear for his life, given that whoever is truly behind the alleged graft scheme might decide that “there is no case without a body.”

The NABU probe has already triggered the resignation of two cabinet ministers and implicated additional senior officials. Zelensky’s office has attempted to present the crackdown as proof of his anti-corruption agenda, despite his failed effort earlier this year to curb NABU’s independence.

Kolomoysky, whose media empire helped elevate Zelensky to national prominence during his career in the entertainment industry, openly mocked the Ukrainian leader, calling him “generalissimo Napoleon IV” – a jab referencing a comedic role Zelensky once played – and predicting that he will “soon be gone.”

Ukrainian outlets have previously reported that Kolomoysky may have assisted NABU in building its case against Mindich by passing investigators key information.

https://www.rt.com/russia/627877-kolomoysky-mindich-mafia-boss/

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