Kobolev reveals details about Naftogaz supervisory board resignation

"We and the government had difficult discussions with the Supervisory Board on several issues. It's quite normal, as the Supervisory Board should not be either the government's 'hands' or represent the interests of management, which would be fundamentally contrary to the principles of corporate governance reform," Kobolev said, commenting on the information that First Deputy Prime Minister Stepan Kubiv and Deputy Prime Minister Volodymyr Kistion were dissatisfied with some decisions of the Supervisory Board, Novoye Vremya reports.

Read alsoNaftogaz approves appointment of Polish national as Ukrtransgaz president"One of these decisions is the dismissal of the head of Ukrtransgaz, Ihor Prokopiv. Our security service has transferred audit materials that clearly indicate actions in the interests of third parties, rather than Ukrtransgaz. In terms of Western standards of governance, this is corruption. The Supervisory Board studied the decision over several months and eventually agreed on the dismissal. As a result, we see that Mr. Prokopiv becomes deputy minister of energy. He is instructed to complete the gas market reform, the division of Naftogaz into several companies, as well as conduct talks with the IMF about the gas price. We all know the success in all these areas, which is, in principle, obvious," Kobolev said.

He also talked about some other decisions of Naftogaz, which the Cabinet of Ministers was dissatisfied with.

"I know that the Ukrtransgaz's approval of the appointment of Polish national Pawel Stanczak as a new head of Ukrtransgaz caused the negative reaction. In a word, the SBU [Security Service of Ukraine] still blocks his work as head of the company. Under the law of Ukraine, it is impossible to open a secret department in a company whose CEO does not have access to state secrets. He has no access. So, if now he takes up his duties, we can be accused of a serious criminal offense," Kobolev said.

Read alsoNaftogaz's independent directors to quit because of government meddling, lack of reform"Another example: the Supervisory Board approves the company's financial plan and strategy, while the government does not automatically accept something, and begins to review the matter, it raises questions," he added.

As UNIAN reported, Kobolev earlier explained why the Cabinet should expand the powers of the Naftogaz Supervisory Board. According to him, it is important to make the formation of gas prices (including for the households) independent of political interference.