The State Bureau of Investigation believes that the sale of the Pryamyi TV channel in 2021 by former Party of Regions MP Volodymyr Makeenko allowed him to receive undeclared income and evade taxes.
The investigation into Makeenko found that, according to his tax return, on February 18, 2021, he sold 99% of Cyprus-based Parlimo Trading Limited to Petro Poroshenko’s Prime Assets Capital fund for $297,000 (UAH 8.27 million equivalent at the NBU exchange rate at the time) and 100% of Centerano Trading Limited for $3000 (UAH 83,490 equivalent).
At the same time, the sale and purchase agreement provided for the second stage of the transaction, under which Parlimo Trading alienated corporate rights to Pryamyy TV Channel LLC in favor of Prime Assets Capital for UAH 462.29 million.
«In other words, PERSON_4 [Makeenko] sold corporate rights to Parlimo Trading Limited, which owned the TV channel, for UAH 8,265,510.00, and the latter immediately sold the TV channel itself for UAH 462,290,000.00, i.e. more than 55 times more expensive, which can have no other explanation than a deliberate artificial understatement of the value of corporate rights to Parlimo Trading Limited during their sale and indicates that PERSON_4 [Makeenko] received undeclared income,» the SBI said.
The value of the deal between Makeenko and Poroshenko was not previously disclosed. After buying the channel on February 18, 2021, Petro Poroshenko said he had paid a lot of money.
Makeenko’s sale of Pryamyy TV channel is one of several episodes that the former regional leader is charged with. The investigation believes that he legalized his undeclared income by purchasing real estate.
On July 22, 2024, the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv arrested his real estate. It includes 13 land plots, two houses, four apartments, more than 40 parking spaces and other non-residential premises.