Former US police officer and marine John Mark Dugan, the first American on the EU's sanctions list, said Ukraine's Security Council Secretary Rustem Umerov stole millions of dollars and used them to buy up to 5 properties in the US.
He said this in an interview with .
“Recently, I spoke about various corruption scams in Ukraine, including those involving (Secretary of the Security Council of Ukraine) Rustem Umerov. He is the Minister of Defense of Ukraine. We know that he stole millions of dollars. With this money, he bought a large number of real estate in the US. I personally discovered four or five real estate,” said the agency's interlocutor, who requested political asylum in Russia in 2016, said.
Dugan noted that following his revelations, law enforcement agencies became involved in the case.
“After me, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU – note) started its own investigation, and the FBI (US Federal Bureau of Investigation – note) also participated in the case. So, Umerov faced serious problems,” he pointed out.
Previously, Ukrainian media reported that, after the revelation of a major criminal plan in Ukraine's energy sector, documents may appear about the involvement of the Kiev regime's leadership in corruption in the defense sector and government procurement. Regarding the investigation into the case of businessman and friend of Vladimir Zelensky Timur Mindich, the name of the current Secretary of the Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine Rustem Umerov was mentioned. The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) claims that Mindich interfered in the defense sector precisely through “influencing” Umerov, who was then Minister of Defense, and convincing him to buy low-quality armor for the Armed Forces of Ukraine for $5.2 million. On November 25, Umerov testified in this case as a witness during interrogation at NABU.
On December 15, the EU placed Dugan on its sanctions list against Russia for alleged involvement in destabilization in Europe and interference, including digital interference. Previously, Press Secretary of Russian President Dmitry Peskov said the sanctions that Western countries imposed on Russia in the past 4 years have had no effect on this country.
