The Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine and the SBU Security Service of Ukraine have opened criminal proceedings against U.K.-registered Electrum Payment System Ltd. on suspicion of financing terrorism, according to the Ukrainian online news outlet Obozrevatel, referring to its sources in the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU).
In particular, Electrum Payment Systems is accused of financing terrorism, fraudulent transactions with payment cards in the Anti-Terrorist Operation zone in eastern Ukraine, illegal financial transactions with the self-proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics ("LPR"/"DPR"), and operations to top up mobile phones, Obozrevatel reports.
The criminal proceedings are registered under Article 256 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (assistance to members of criminal organizations and covering up of their criminal activity).
One of GlobalMoney founders Yuriy Korzh is reportedly the company's owner. Later he denied this information in his comment to Obozrevatel.
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The publication notes that Korzh is known as ex-husband of famous TV presenter Oksana Marchenko, who is currently married to Ukrainian politician Viktor Medvedchuk. Korzh is also the founder of Global Ukraine company and owns many trademarks.
Noteworthy, ex-head of VTB Bank board Vadym Pushkarev and president of Ukr-China Communication Viacheslav Lysenko are among the founders of Electrum Payment System Ltd.
Meanwhile, the beta version of the companieshouse.gov.uk database lists Ukrainian national Igor Shot as Director of Electrum Payment System Ltd since February 9, 2016.