Photo from UNIAN
The bank's assets were frozen and disclosed after the lawsuit was filed, he said.
Ukrainian businessman Ihor Kolomoisky says litigation as part of the lawsuit lodged by Dnipro-based PrivatBank against its former owners – him personally and Hennady Boholiubov – has not yet begun.
"There hasn't even been any preliminary preparation. Today only 'near-border battles' are ongoing," he told journalist Sonya Koshkina, as reported by the TV news service TSN.ua.
Kolomoisky noted that after the lawsuit had been filed, the assets were frozen and disclosed. He divided the assets into three groups: those connected with the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and the rest of the world.
Read alsoKolomoisky: PrivatBank unlawfully nationalized – DW
The businessman stressed that the assets freeze had happened without the former owners' presence. The plaintiffs came and gave their arguments, which seemed to the judge to be convincing.
Kolomoisky also commented whether the court could unfreeze the assets if it sees that the political motives are behind the claim. "There were hearings in July, and we had an opportunity to present our arguments. The decision hasn't been made yet," he said. A new decision by the London court may be taken in November, he added.
Among other things, he noted that the London court's ruling was a "big blow" to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who earlier "wanted very much to have a look at the ownership structure of the 1+1 Media Group." "The structure of the [group's] Ukrainian assets today is legal and Poroshenko has no access to it," the businessman added.
Moreover, Kolomoisky whose companies manage a stake in Ukraine's largest oil producer Ukrnafta as a corporation said he was ready to decide on splitting the company if a certain condition was met.
According to Kolomoisky, this involves a "fair division of assets," which "will help the company get out of crisis."
The businessman says the shareholders' consent is required for splitting Ukrnafta's assets into legal entities. "They need not only my consent, but also that of all shareholders. I think if there is a fair division of assets and this will help the company get out of crisis – then why not? We support this. We welcome any pragmatic business approach. Without politics," he said.
CEO of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine Andriy Kobolyev earlier said that the company was in talks with Kolomoisky on splitting Ukrnafta's assets. According to him, Kolomoisky has not yet agreed to this. "We still haven't reached a final agreement. The talks are under way," Kobolyev added.