Regarding inaccurate information disseminated by certain media outlets

In connection with the publication by several media outlets of materials alleging the involvement of Serhii Tarasov and the group of companies “I&U Group” in criminal proceedings handled by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), we hereby state the following.

The information disseminated by certain media outlets is inaccurate and presented with significant distortion of the factual circumstances.

NABU is currently conducting criminal proceeding No. 42020120000000009 dated January 10, 2020, initiated under Part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (abuse of power or official authority), concerning alleged misconduct by officials of the Mykilska Village Council of Svitlovodsk District, Kirovohrad Region. The case relates to the establishment by the village council of an enterprise and the subsequent disposal of corporate rights in LLC “Megatrend” in favor of third parties.

The pre-trial investigation was originally initiated by law enforcement authorities of the Kirovohrad region and was conducted from 2020 to 2022, after which the case was transferred to NABU based on jurisdiction.

According to the investigation materials, officials of the Mykilska Village Council of Svitlovodsk District, Kirovohrad Region admitted participants into LLC “Megatrend” by contributing property belonging to the village council—namely 10 chairs—into the company’s authorized capital, which constituted 65% of the charter capital. Subsequently, the enterprise was granted lease rights, under a preferential procedure and without an auction, to 49 land plots totaling 1,500 hectares. Thereafter, the village council adopted a decision to alienate its share in the authorized capital in favor of another participant in the