United States Department of State Washington, D.C. 20520 February 27, 2020 Case No. F-2020-00741 Mr. David N. Bossie Citizens United 1006 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E. ‘Washington, D.C. 20009 Dear Mr. David Bossie ‘This is in response to your request under the Freedom of Information Act (the “FOIA”), 5 U.S.C. § 552, dated October 18,2019. Thus far, the Department has located 10 documents responsive to your request, and we have determined all 10 may be released in part. The processing of your request is ongoing, An enclosure explains the FOIA exemptions and other grounds for withholding material. Where we have made excisions, the applicable FOIA exemptions are marked on each document. All non-exempt material that is reasonably segregable from the exempt material has been released and is enclosed. ‘We will keep you informed as your case progresses. If you have any questions, your attorney may contact Trial Attorney Liam Holland at Liam. Holland@usdoj.gov or 202-514-4964, Please refer to the case number, F-2020-00741 and the civil action number, 19-cv-03466, in all correspondence about this request. Sincerely, / [ j @ Wf J_| AU I\ A/C A. Sian CWestatan Deputy Director . Office of Information Programs and Services Enclosures: As stated.The Freedom of Information Act (5 USC 552) FOIA Exemptions (XI) Information specifically authorized by an executive order to be kept secret in the interest of (2) (0y3) ora 0x) (X6) 0X7) xa) x9) national defense or foreign policy. Executive Order 13526 includes the following classification categoric 1.4(a) Military plans, systems, or operations 1.40) Foreign government information 1.4(C) Intelligence activities, sources or methods, or eryptology 1.4) Foreign relations or foreign activities of the US, including confidential sources 1.4(¢) Scientific, technological, or economic matters relating to national security, including defense against transnational terrorism 1.4() U.S. Government prograins for safeguarding nuclear materials or facilities 1.4(g) Vulnerabilities or capabilities of systems, installations, infrastructures, projects, plans, or protection services relating to US national security, including defense against transnational terorism 1.4(h) Weapons of mass destruction Related solely to the internal personnel rules and practices of an agency Specifically exempted from disclosure by statute (other than 5 USC 552), for example: ARMSEXP ‘Arms Export Control Act, 50a USC 2411(c) CIA PERS/ORG Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949, 50 USC 403(g) EXPORT CONTROL Export Administration Act of 1979, 50 USC App. Sec. 2411(c) ES.ACT Foreign Service Act of 1980,22 USC 4004 INA Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 USC 1202(f), Sec. 222(8) TRAN Iran Claims Settlement Act, Public Law 99-99, Sec. 505 Trade secrets and confidential commercial or financial information Interagency or intra-agency communications forming part of the deliberative process, attorney-client privilege, or attormey work product Personal privacy information Law enforcement information whose disclosure would: (A) interfere with enforcement proceedings ) deprive a person of a'fair tial (C) coiistitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy ©) disclose confidential sources €) disclose investigation techniques @) endanger life or physical safety of an individual Prepared by or for a government agency regulating or supervising financial institutions Geological and geophysical information and data, including maps, concerning wells Other Grounds for Withholding Material not responsive to a FOIA request excised with the agreement ofthe requesterUnited States Embassy Kyiv, Ukraine BRIEFING CHECKLIST (BCL: Ambassador Yovanovitch’s Meeting with Karen Tramontano, Blue Star Strategies Thursday, December 8, 2016 Interpretation: N/A 10:30-11:00 Notetaker: Chip Laitinen Ambassador’s Office EXT: 5365 CONTEXT ‘An Atlantic Council member and Washington veteran, Tramontano informally represents Mykola Zlochevskiy, the Burisma CEO who has long been the target of law enforcement proceedings in Ukraine. WHAT DO WE WANT? ° pe KEY OBJECTIVES 1, Zlochevskiy: the former Minister of Ecology fled Ukraine in early 2014 and was charged with corruption and sanctioned by the European Union. In 2014, British officials unfroze $23 million in his British bank accounts. Zlochevskiy owns Burisma, one of Ukraine’s largest gas producers. His official U.S. representatives sent a letter in September (attached) asking that the Embassy reconsider its position on him. PNY(ever WATCH OUT FOR Burisma and USAID: In September, USAID withdrew its Municipal Energy Reform Program’s (MERP’s) cooperation with Burisma on a joint program to award journalists for outstanding coverage of energy efficiency issues in Ukraine citing concerns about the appearance of a conflict of interest rewarding journalists with prizes paid by an energy company. Burisma provided approximately $7,500 in prizes for last year’s contest. Subsequently, USAID spoke to Blue Star Strategies representative Sally Painter by phone and indicated that we would be open to discussing other forms of cooperation between USAID and Burisma, and agreed to meet with Burisma Government and Public Affairs representative, Vadym Pozharskyi. In the November meeting, Pozharskyi briefed USAID on Burisma and the gas sector more broadly, but did not propose specific ideas for cooperati (es) BIS) PARTICIPANTS United States Other Country/Organization Anibassador Yovanovitch Karen Tramontano, Blue Star CEO — Attachment: Biographic Information Letter from Zlochevskiy’s representatives(N6) _____ “Approved: DCM: Kent (by(6) — afta: — i Cleared: ~ AID/Fritz ok. (ere): vce)Ee. ] From: |"Kent, George P" To: [>6) ‘Subject: [21 Sept @1000 - new meeting Date: |Fri, 16 Sep 2016 02:15:30 -0400 (ove) my schedule too (eve), by7C) From:[ Sent: Friday, September 16, 2016 8:31 AM — To:[0x0) Kent, George P; [yey = poe = [EH6) fone Subject: RE: Zlochevshy, Burisma, Cravath, and image rehab campaigns “Fhank you | willbe there mer *ankyou! lexriiey ky From, Sent: Friday, September 16, 2016 8:04 AM _ To: kent, George P; ()(6) — Po pe uBject: RE: Zlochevsky, Burisma, Cravath, and image rehab campaigns Sept 21 at 10 am in AMB office. Best regards, OG) "ANTE OMS, US Embassy Ky Office: +380-44-521-5479, Pe (eve), Keye7iee) From: Kent, George P oo Sent: Friday, September 16, 2016 7:53 A Pe for finding a time for an ambassadorial brief (topic: Zlochevsky/Burisma — asset recovery and past crimes of the Yanu regime, as they intersect US corporate/individual interests) seu This email is UNCLASSIFIED.fener (bye): ~ Kb7V(C) = ~ From:|—___ Se : 0AM To: [616) Kent, George P| fener ‘Subject: Ret Zlochevsky, Burisma, Cravath, and image rehab cam (v6) fr I would like to join for this. Thx (exe; ) —~ Kov7vc) | Sent BlackBerry 10 smartphone ‘Sent: Friday, Torkent, George P| PI) [pro Subject: Re: ZiocheVSky, BUTEA, CPAVaNN, aN Wnage TEND CHTIBSTGAS Will be prepared to brief her whenever she has time. Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone. From: Kent, George P Sey = (vey Foleren oxrNC) fever icy ‘Subject: Zlochevsky, Burisma, Cravath, and image rehab campaigns a The next stage. I've suggested to the Ambassador that she should get a briefing from —~ Jana) re the background on the Zlochevsky case and LEGATT/0O) efforts in 2014 on asset rCOVETY. sau This email is UNCLASSIFIED. From: Yovanovitch, Marie L Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2016 7:01 PM To: Kent, George P ‘Subject: Fw: Letter from John Buretta What is this about? Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone. From: Jun Li Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2016 6:10 PM To: Yovanovitch, Marie L Ce: John Buretta ‘Subject: Letter from John Buretta Ambassador Yovanovitch: Please see the attached letter from John Buretta, Regards,Jun Jun Li Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP 825 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10019 212-474-1358 | jli@cravath.com Send "Kent, George P” a Recipient: (PvE)fener Da 'Yovanovitch, Marie L To: [Kent Gearne P {OTe Ks [exer Fw: KyivPost: Zlochevsky’s Burisma and Atlantic Counc il Sign Cooperative 'Agreement Date: |Thu, 19 Jan 2017 11:46:01 -0500 Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone From: Ibi@lbicompany.com.ua hursday, January 19, 2017 5:53 PM yiv, Media Alerts ‘Subject: KyivPost: Zlochevskyi's Burisma and Atlantic Council Sign Cooperative Agreement. Kyiv Post Zlochevskyi’s Burisma and Atlant ign Cooperative Agreement 19.01.2017 Author: Burisma Group. The largest private gas-producer in Ukraine forges relationship with the new U.S. Administration The Atlantic Council of the United States and Burisma Group, largest independent {gas producer in Ukraine, have signed a cooperative agreement. Atlantic Council will develop transatlantic programs with Burisma’s support, focusing on European and international energy security, as reported in the company's release. http://burisma.com/en/news/the-atlantic-council ‘group-sign-cooperative-agreement/ For Burisma Group, it is a new chapter of cooperation with the United States and Europe together with such a high-profile organization as the Atlantic Council. Cooperation with Ukraine and future programs with Burisma Group will be coordinated by a respected diplomat, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine (2003-2006) and the Director of the Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center (Atlantic Council's Center) John Herbst. “Burisma’s support and cooperation will enable us to continue to expand our Ukraine programming and to provide new platforms for discussing these vital and timely issues”, ~ admitted John Herbst. It is symbolic that the start of cooperation has coincided with the new U.S. Administration, According to experts, this will enable more efficient implementation of new joint energy-related projects and ensure support of one of the top U.S. think tanks. it became possible to sign a cooperative agreement between Burisma and theAtlantic Council after all charges against Burisma Group companies and its owner Nikolay Zlochevskyi were withdrawn. ‘According to Nikolay Zlochevskyi, President of Burisma Group the Atlantic Council has played a vital role in Ukraine in championing transatlantic relations, democracy, and energy security: “Ambassador Herbst has been a tireless champion for Ukraine and Burisma welcomes this opportunity to support the important work of the Ambassador and the Atlantic Council.” The Atlantic Council is a leading US think tank in the field of international affairs, headquartered in Washington, D.C. As one of the most influential non-governmental U.S. organizations, it manages ten regional centers and functional programs related to international security and global economic prosperity. For more detailed information please contact our press-center: media@burisma.com https://www. kyivpost.com/business-wire/zlochevskyis-burisma-atlantic-council-sign- cooperative-agreement.html With best regards, LBI Team wwe. Ibicompany.com.ua 'Yovanovitch, Marie LP") Kent, George P {2107 3)6)From: |"Kent, George P" <[Ex67 it z FW: Censor: PGO refers case of ex-minister Zlochevskyi to Anti-Corruption Bureau, - MP Leshchenko Subject: Date: |Tue, 8 Nov 2016 33 -0500 For all fans of Burisma, From: [bi@Ibicompany.com.ua [mailto:!bi@/bicompany.com.ua] Sent: Friday, January 15, 2016 5:46 PM To: Kyiv, Media Alerts ‘Subject: Censor: PGO refers case of ex-minister Zlochevskyi to Anti-Corruption Bureau, - MP Leshchenko Censor PGO refers case of ex-minister Zlochevskyi to Anti-Corruption Bureau, - MP Leshchenko Janaury, 15 The Prosecutor General's Office has referred the case filed against former Minister of Environment Mykola Zlochevskyi to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine. This is stated in the response of the Prosecutor General's Office to the request filed by MP from the Petro Poroshenko Bloc Sergei Leshchenko, Censor.NET informs citing the press service of the party. "The Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine ... has referred the criminal proceedings filed against Mykola Zlochevskyi on Aug. 5, 2015 under suspicion of commission of a criminal offense punished by Part 3 of the Article 368-2 (illicit enrichment) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, and on March 27, 2014, to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) in accordance with the jurisdiction to address the issue of the organization of further pre~ trial investigation," the document reads. It should be reminded that two criminal proceedings were initiated against Mykola Zlochevskyi for abuse of office, embezzlement of public funds and illicit enrichment. He faces 5 to 10 years of imprisonment with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or exercise certain activity for up to three years with confiscation of property. Source:http:/ /redirect.state.sbu/?url=http: //en.censor.net.ua/n3692:With best regards, LBI Team (097) 4793-13-50 Sender: "Kent, George P" {2 } Fritz, Susan (EE/AA) ; eve) Recipient:From: ["Yovanovitch, Marie LY 4 To: |Kent, George P {™) ‘Subject: [Fw: KyivPost: Activists cry foul as courts, prosecutors clear Zlochevsky Date: |Fri, 20 Jan 2017 01:43:19 -0500 Sent ff From(tl) Ser tiday, January 20, 2017 8:11 AM To: Yovanovitch, Marie L Subject: Fw: KyivPost: Activists cry foul as courts, prosecutors clear Zlochevsky Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone. From: Ibi@lbicompany.com.ua Sent: Friday, January 20, 2017 6:24 AM To: Kyiv, Media Alerts Subject: KyivPost: Activists cry foul as courts, prosecutors clear Zlochevsky KyivPost: Activists cry foul as courts, prosecutors clear Zlochevsky By Alyona Zhuk. Published Jan. 19, 2017 The club of top officials of fugitive ex-President Viktor Yanukovych’s regime who have successfully avoided prosecution has a new member. Ex-Ecology Minister Mykola Zlochevsky was cleared of corruption charges and can now return to Ukraine after three years of exile. A Ukrainian court closed the case against him in November, but the public only heard of the development when the ex- minister’s oil-and-gas company, Burisma Group, announced it in January. ‘The Prosecutor General's Office sat on the case for two years. It finally changed the thrust of the investigation from illicit enrichment to tax evasion, and then settled. But prosecutors are now under fire from anti-corruption activists for intentionally botching the case and letting Zlochevsky off the hook. SABOTAGE CLAIMS Zlochevsky was among several top officials who fled Ukraine after the EuroMaidan Revolution that ousted Yanukovych on Feb. 22, 2014. Months later, some $35 million was found in his companies’ bank accounts in the United Kingdom, prompting money laundering and illicit enrichment investigations in the UK and Ukraine. He was also investigated for giving gas extraction licenses to affiliated companies ~ mainly ones in the Burisma Group.But the charges were then whittled down to a single case of tax evasion, which was settled by a Kyiv court in November, with Burisma agreeing to pay Hr 180 million. The settlement constitutes less than 20 percent of the sum discovered in Zlochevsky’s bank account in 2014. Burisma called the closing of the case the result of “full cooperation between the office of the prosecutor general” and Burisma’s lawyers. However, this “full cooperation” could actually be an illegal backroom deal, claims Daria Kaleniuk, the executive director of the Anti-Corruption Action Center. “The proceedings led by the Prosecutor General’s Office weren’t just shut - they were intentionally botched,” Kaleniuk says. Answering the claims, prosecutors say the case was investigated properly. But “we have doubts about that,” says Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, an executive director at Transparency International Ukraine. LOST MILLIONS The prosecutors’ work on the Zlochevsky case has long been cause for concern, In 2015, then-Deputy Prosecutor General Davit Sakvarelidze launched a criminal proceeding into possible abuse of office by the prosecutors who worked on Zlochevsky’s case. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine took over the case in early 2016, and is still investigating it. However, in a press release sent out by the Burisma Group, Zlochevsky said that the closing of the case against him and his companies was “a big step forward for Ukraine in general, and for Burisma Group in particular.” Zlochevsky served as Ukraine's ecology minister in 2010-2012, during the Yanukovych presidency. During that time, the State Service of Geology and Mineral Resources of Ukraine, which works under the Ecology Ministry, granted licenses for gas extraction to Zlochevsky’s companies In the spring of 2014, after Yanukovych fled and the West started imposing sanctions against his associates, Andriy Kicha, Zlochevsky’s lawyer and a top manager at the Burisma Group, tried to transfer some $23 million from accounts in the UK to Cyprus. The UK authorities blocked the operation, froze the accounts, and launched an investigation to determine the source of Zlochevsky’s money, suspecting money laundering. At the same time, Ukrainian prosecutors started an illicit enrichment case against Zlochevsky. However, Ukrainian prosecutors provided no help to the case in the UK. In December 2014, the Prosecutor General's Office sent Zlochevsky’s lawyer a letter stating that no active case was underway against his client. A London court then dropped the case, citing a lack of evidence, and unfroze the accounts According to the London court, some $20 million of the $35 million in Zlochevsky company accounts in British banks had come from fugitive Ukrainian oil trader and Yanukovych crony Serhiy Kurchenko, who is wanted in Ukraine on suspicion of ‘embezzlement,“That money was the first money arrested abroad, right after the EuroMaidan Revolution,” Kaleniuk said. “And we could have got it back.” And although the Ukrainian authorities put Zlochevsky on the wanted list in Ukraine, the case never went further. After a 30-month investigation by the Prosecutor General's Office, the Podilsky Court in Kyiv closed the case on Nov. 17 after Burisma Group companies paid the state budget Hr 180 million in unpaid taxes. One of the group’s companies that paid the settlement was Esko-Pivnich, where the defendant was an accountant. “Why have the proceedings regarding Zlochevsky’s possible illegal enrichment led to the proceedings against an accountant at Esko-Pivnich for tax evasion?” Kaleniuk asks. Zlochevsky was taken off the wanted list even before the final settlement, in October, after another Kyiv court issued an order to prosecutors because his case hadn't been actively investigated for a year. Zlochevsky has never revealed where he has been living in the past three years. In December, a Ukrainian journalist published photos of a man she said was Zlochevsky dining in Vienna with Ihor Kononenko, a lawmaker with President Petro Poroshenko's faction and Poroshenko's close associate. Kononenko hasn't commented on the issue. The faction’s spokesman told the Kyiv Post that the lawmaker couldn’t be reached, GAS SCHEMES But prosecutors may not be done with Zlochevsky yet. In July, Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko announced that his office was investigating Esko-Pivnich, a member of Burisma Group, on suspicion of falsely reducing its profits with the use of fictitious enterprises, and evading about Hr 1 billion ($36 million) worth of taxes. ‘At the time, Lutsenko claimed that Zlochevsky was the only shareholder of Burisma Group connected to the scheme. The gas extracting companies were suspected of selling gas to affiliated or fictitious ‘companies cheaply. The companies then resold it at market prices. However, according to Tetiana Shevchuk, a lawyer with the Anti-Corruption Action Center, the focus in the gas scheme investigation is already shifting away from Zlochevsky’s companies. In the latest court rulings, the ex-minister’s businesses weren’t mentioned at all, according to Shevchuk. The Kyiv Post asked prosecutors whether the gas scheme investigation still concerned Ziochevsky’s companies, but received no response before deadline Kaleniuk said Burisma has now embarked on a public relations campaign to improve its reputation. https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/activists-cry-foul-courts-prosecutors- clear-zlochevsky.htm|with best LBI Team www. Ibicompany. coi (04a) (097) 479-13-50 501 58 Sender HY "Yovanovitch, Marie L" Recipient: Kent, George P ["°) regards,pve) From: ‘Yovanovitch, Marie L [°° i To: [OV) CC! Rent George PP Subject: FH: KvivPost: Onyshchenko accuses Poroshenko of pressuring Burisma, ECE energy firm linked to Biden, Kwasniewski Date: |Thu, 29 Dec 2016 00:29:08 -0500 Lots of accusations/innuendo. Mentions Biden’s son and kwasniewski are on board of Burisma which allegedly had a subsidiary dump natural gas recently as a way to pay bribes to P2 inner cicle. Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone. From: ibi@lbicompany.com.ua Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2016 06:26 To: Kyiv, Media Alerts Subject: KyivPost: Onyshchenko accuses Poroshenko of pressuring Burisma, energy firm linked to Biden, Kwasniewski KyivPost Onyshchenko accuses Poroshenko of pressuring Burisma, energy firm linked to Biden, Kwasniewski 28.12.2016 By Oleg Sukhov Fugitive lawmaker Oleksandr Onyshchenko and Radical Party leader Oleg Lyashko have accused President Petro Poroshenko of wrongdoing involving the Ecology Ministry, which approves lucrative licenses for gas and oil exploration. The Presidential Administration denied the allegations and accused Onyshchenko of cooperating with Russian intelligence agencies and getting a Russian passport, which he denies. “All statements made by lawmaker Onyshchenko, who has been charged with corruption, are lies that are not confirmed by any evidence,” the administration told the Kyiv Post. *..This cause has gone beyond a personal campaign against Petro Poroshenko and has become an aspect of Russia's information war against Ukraine.” With respect to the Ecology Ministry, Onyshchenko and Lyashko accused Poroshenko of bribing lawmakers to appoint his loyalists so that the appointees would cancel certain mineral resource licenses. Among those were licenses granted to two natural gas producers — Naftogazvydobuvannya, controlled by billionaire tycoon Rinat Akhmetov, and Burisma, a firm controlled by ex-Ecology Minister Mykola Zlochevsky. Hunter Biden,son of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, and former Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski are on Burisma’s board of directors. When the attempt to revoke the licenses failed, Onyshchenko alleges that the president used his loyal prosecutors to freeze the assets of Burisma and Naftogazvydobuvannya. Onyshchenko claimed that Poroshenko extorted money from Akhmetov and Zlochevsky for unfreezing them. The licenses are active today. Critics have questioned Onyshchenko's credibility because he has been charged with stealing Hr 1.6 billion ($64 million) from state-owned gas producer Ukrgazvydobuvannya, which he denies. He fled Ukraine before he was stripped of his Parliamentary immunity in July. He said on Dec. 1 he had given the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation information alleging corruption of Poroshenko and his inner circle. The Department of Justice has indirectly confirmed that its representatives had met with Onyshchenko, but issued a statement afterwards saying it would not cooperate with him in the future. Shevchenko's appointment Onyshchenko told the Kyiv Post that, after his election as president, Poroshenko lobbied for the appointment of loyalists - Igor Shevchenko and Petro Matveyev ~ as ‘ecology minister and head of the State Service for Geology and Mineral Resources, respectively. Shevchenko formally represented Yulia Tymoshenko's Batkyvshchyna, while Matveyev was formally a candidate from Oleg Lyashko’s Radical Party but effectively they would represent the interests of Poroshenko and Onyshchenko, he said. Onyshchenko supposedly acted as an intermediary. Poroshenko tried to use these appointees to cancel the mineral resource licenses of Burisma and Naftogazvydobuvannya in order to extort money from them, Onyshchenko claimed. Shevchenko was eventually appointed in December 2014, while Matveyev’s, appointment was blocked by Prime Minister Arsenly Yatsenyuk. Shevchenko was fired in July 2015 amid a corruption scandal over his earlier flights ‘on Onyshchenko’s private jet. He denies any wrongdoing, ‘Tymoshenko on Dec. 5 denied coaperating with Onyshchenko on Shevchenko’s appointment, saying his claim had been an effort by discredit her team. But on the same day, Lyashko published what he said was a letter by Tymoshenko nominating Shevchenko for a minister's job. He accused Tymoshenko of writing the letter in exchange for money, which she denied. Shevchenko told the Kyiv Post he had not been aware of Porashenko's alleged lobbying for his candidacy. “Of course, the president participated in this process,” he told the Kyiv Post. "But I don’t know who lobbied for what... I was told that my candidacy had been approved by the president.”He also said he had been acquianted with Onyshchenko for a long time, and that Poroshenko had talked with Onyshchenko about him and asked him to talk to Shevchenko. “We were checking the issuance of licenses to different companies ,but we did not have a task to target Naftogazvudobuvannya specifically,” Shevchenko said. But he said Yatsenyuk had likely protected Akhmetov's interests because he had prevented Matveyev's appointment and blocked Shevchenko and Matveyev “from the opportunity to check the issuance of licenses, including those of Akhmetov’s ‘company, Burisma or anyone else.” Mineral resources agency Onyshchenko said he had met with Poroshenko and Yatsenyuk in November 2014, and the president had demanded the appointment of Matveyev and deputy ecology ministers loyal to Poroshenko and Onyshchenko. Yatsenyuk’s spokeswoman Olga Lappo neither confirmed nor denied that the meeting took place. *Yatsenyuk did not appoint an Onyshchenko loyalist to the State Service for Geology and Mineral Resources despite the efforts to nominate him repeatedly by the ecology minister, who was fired due to suspected corruption,” she told the Kyiv Post. "On all other issues, we will comment to investigators.” Meanwhile, Lyashko said in September 2015 that Poroshenko had repeatedly offered him bribes for the appointment of his candidate for the State Service for Geology and Mineral Resources. “When I blocked Matveyev’s appointment, Poroshenko met me several times and tried to persuade me not to block it,” Lyashko told the Kyiv Post. “But I didn’t agree to this because I knew that Matveyev is an Onyshchenko loyalist.” Onyshchenko claimed Poroshenko had offered $5 million to Lyashko, while Lyashko wanted $10 million, and they did not reach an agreement. Yatsenyuk blocked the appointment because he protected Akhmetov's interests, Onyshchenko said. However, Lyashko denied being interested in a bribe. “This is utter nonsense,” he said. “On the contrary, I blocked this appointment when, I found out that Ecology Minister Shevchenko nominated Matveyev, an Onyshchenko protege, as head of the State Service for Geology and Mineral Resources. I also demanded that Poroshenko fire Ecology Minister Shevchenko, who was nominated by Yulia Tymoshenko and lobbied for Onyshchenko’s interests.”Lawmaker Serhiy Berezenko asking Onyshchenko whether he had approved the appointment of a Yaroslav Kiymovych, CEO of Nadra Ukrainy. He also asks him to get votes for the appointment of Ihor Bilous as head of the State Property Fund in May 2015. Onyshchenko sent to the Kyiv Post what he says is his smartphone correspondence with Poroshenko’s right-hand man and lawmaker Ihor Kononenko and Serhiy Berezenko, a lawmaker from the Poroshenko Bloc, about appointments at state firms and agencies reporting to the Ecology Ministry. According to the messages, Kononenko discussed the appointment of the chief of a firm based in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, while Berezenko asked Onyshchenko whether he had authorized the appointment of Yaroslav Klymovych as CEO of Nadra Ukrainy, a state mineral resource firm.Lawmaker Igor Kononenko discussing the appointment of Chernobylsky Spetskombinat's CEO with Oleksandr Onyshchenko, Prosecutors’ pressure When the alleged efforts to revoke the licenses of Naftogazvydobuvannya and Burisma failed, prosecutors loyal to Poroshenko froze their assets and then unfroze them when the president received money from them, Onyshchenko claimed, The Prosecutor General's Office did not respond to a request for comment. Naftogazvydobuvannya used to be co-owned by Poroshenko and his top ally and lawmaker Igor Kononenko but later it was acquired by lawmakers Nestor Shufrich and Mykola Rudkovsky and then by Akhmetov. In 2015 Dmytro Sus, a prosecutor accused of links to Poroshenko’s allies Kononenko and Oleksandr Hranovsky, ordered the assets of Naftogazvydobuvannya to be frozen as part of a case into the kidnapping of the company’s CEO Oleh Seminsky. The ‘company’s operations were blocked, and the freeze was deemed controversial because it happened three years after Seminsky’s kidnapping. The assets were unfrozen by a court in December 2015, with prosecutors deciding not to dispute the decision. Meanwhile, in February 2016 a British Virgin Islands firm with unknown beneficiaries became a co-owner of Naftogazvydobuvannya. Earlier this year Sus also ordered a freeze on the assets of Burisma and other firms controlled by Zlochevsky as part of the embezzlement case into another firm, Ukrgazvydobuvannya. But later courts unfroze them, and Sus did not dispute the rulings. At the same time, Zlochevsky, who has been charged with unlawful enrichment, was taken off the wanted list at the request of Sus’ department in October 2016. Burisma did not respond to a request for comment, while Akhmetov denied the accusations. “Onyshchenko’s claim that money was extorted from me in exchange for unfreezing Naftogazvydobuvannya’s assets is absolutely untrue,” he told the Kyiv Post in a written comment. “As far as claims by the Prosecutor General's Office against Naftogazvydobuvannya are concerned, they have been resolved in a legal way.” Onyshchenko claimed that Poroshenko had tried to extort $200 million from Naftogazvydobuvannya, and they settled at $180 million. He also claimed that Poroshenko had wanted a $100 million payment from Zlochevsky, while Zlochevsky offered $50 million. Eventually they settled at about $80 million, he added. Previously Burisma had also been supplying natural gas to a glass factory linked to Kononenko and Poroshenko free of charge, Onyshchenko said. Ukrainska Pravda reported on Dec. 27, citing a market source, that Esko Pivnich, a Burisma subsidiary, was currently selling natural gas at a dumping price of Hr 7,400 to Hr 7,500 per 1,000 cubic meters. Onyshchenko claimed that, by selling gas at abelow-market price, Zlochevsky was effectively paying a bribe to Poroshenko's inner circle. Meanwhile, Olga Vasilevskaya, a journalist at television channel 1+1, on Dec. 25 Published what she claimed to be photos of Kononenko meeting in Vienna with Zlochevsky. Kononenko’s face is clearly visible, while the person identified by her as Zlochevsky is seen from behind The alleged meeting took place after Onyshchenko testified about Poroshenko’s alleged raid on Zlochevsky's business while interrogated by anti-corruption prosecutors by Skype on Dec. 22. Kononenko did not respond to a request for comment. Previously he has denied Onyshchenko’s accusations. Coincidentally, Radio Liberty journalist Mykhailo Tkach on Dec. 22 photographed the cars of Poroshenko and Kononenko visiting the Security Service of Ukraine, a fact confirmed by SBU Chief Vasyl Hrytsak. Bribery in parliament Onyshchenko has also made sweeping claims about alleged corruption in parliament, including the buying of seats in the 2014 election - similar to allegations made by many others, including Poroshenko Bloc lawmaker Sergii Leshchenko and Dragon Capital CEO and European Business Association leader Tomas Fiala. Poroshenko's administration denied the allegations. Onyshchenko has accused Poroshenko, Kononenko and other allies of the president of using him as an intermediary to bribe lawmakers. Lawmaker Serhiy Berezenko asks Oleksandr Onyshchenko to get votes for the resignation of Security Service of Ukraine Chief Valentyn Nalyvaichenko As proof of his claims, Onyshchenko showed to the Kyiv Post alleged text messages in which Berezenko asks him to get votes for the resignation of ValentynNalyvaichenko as head of the Security Service of Ukraine in June 2015 and the appointment of Ihor Bilous as head of the State Property Fund in May 2015. ‘Another alleged message shows Kononenko asking Onyshchenko to get votes for a bill on production sharing agreements in June 2016. Lawmaker Thor Kononenko asking Oleksandr Onyshchenko to get votes for a bill on production sharing agreements. ‘Additionally, Onyshchenko has said that he had given $6 million to David Zhvania, a member of Poroshenko's election headquarters in 2014, for the Poroshenko Bloc’s ‘campaign in order to get registered as a candidate despite his violation of residency rules. Zhvania did not respond to a request for comment. ‘Another one making the allegations is Artem Bidenko, an unsuccessful candidate for parliament from the Poroshenko Bloc in 2014 and now a deputy information policy minister. Bidenko told the Slidtvto.info investigative show in 2014 that Zhvania was responsible for selling parliamentary seats. He said then between 10 and 20 seats had been sold. The seats, including that of lawmaker Glib Zagory, were sold for between $5 million and $10 million, Bidenko said. Zagoriy has denied the claim and filed a libel lawsuit against Bidenko. Bidenko backtracked on Dec. 21, saying that he had had no evidence to back up his earlier claims and that he had made a mistake. However, others - such as lawmaker Leshchenko — say the bribes paid are fueling today’s corruption as lawmakers seek to recoup their payments. U.S. governmentOnyshchenko said on Dec. 1 that he had transferred recordings implicating Poroshenko in corruption to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Peter Cart, a spokesman for the Department of State, told the Kyiv Post on Dec. 16 that “the U.S. Department of Justice has no plans to have further meetings or ‘communications with Mr. Onyshchenko.” Despite this, Onyshchenko said on Facebook on Dec. 19 that U.S. intelligence agents had had him pass a polygraph test on that day. Carr said he could not comment on the claim. Onyshchenko sent to the Kyiv Post what he says is a copy of his agreement with the Department of State signed by Ephraim Wernick, a trial attorney at the Department of Justice’s fraud section representing Andrew Weissman, chief of the section. https: //www.kyiv kraine-politics/onyshchenko- -poroshenko- pressuring-burisma-firm-linked-biden-kwasniewski.html With best regards, LBI Team www. Ibicompany.com.ua (044) 501 58 41 (097) 479-13-50 Sender: [)() 'Yovanovitch, Marie L fone) PRT Recipient: (Rent, George PfFrom: Kent. Georae P* [ b)(6) To: Subject: |Fw: Meeting request from Ambassador Herbst Date: |Tue, 22 Nov 2016 00:46:32 -0500 PST Sent fr I ns From:[6(6) uesday, November 22, 2016 7:39 AM rae P Meeting request from Ambassador Her FYI. We will respond on the HS. ‘SBU This email is UNCLASSIFIED. Ce! ‘Subject: RE: Meeting request from Ambassador Herbst, We found that he was a minister under Yanukovych & looks like Pyatt called him out by name (see NYT excerpt below]. On the other hand, USAID seems to have worked with Burisma on. energy efficiency. Feel free to respond on high-side. http://w nytimes.com/2015/12/09/world/europe/corruption-ukraine-joe-biden-son-hunter- biden-ties.html?_r=0 “That month, as part of an investigation into money laundering, British officials froze London bank accounts containing $23 million that allegedly belonged to Mr. Zlochevsky. Britain’s Serious Fraud Office, an independent government agency, specifically forbade Mr. Zlochevksy, as well as Burisma Holdings, the company’s chief legal officer and another company owned by Mr. Zlochevsky, to have any access to the accounts. But after Ukrainian prosecutors refused to provide documents needed in the investigation, a British court in January ordered the Serious Fraud Office to unfreeze the assets. Therefusal by the Ukrainian prosecutor genetal’s office to cooperate was the target of a stinging attack by the American ambassador to Ukraine, Geofirey R. Pyatt, who called ‘out Burisma’s owner by name in a speech in September. “In the case of former Ecology Minister Mykola Zlochevsky, the U-K. authorities had seized $23 million in illicit assets that belonged to the Ukrainian people,” Mr. Pyatt said. Officials at the prosecutor general’s office, he added, were asked by the United Kingdom “to send documents supporting the seizure. Instead they sent letters to Zlochevsky’s attorneys attesting that there was no case against him. As a result, the money was freed by the U.K. court, and shortly thereafter the money was moved to Cyprus.” ‘Mr. Pyatt went on to call for an investigation into “the misconduct” of the prosecutors who wrote the letters. In his speech, the ambassador did not mention Hunter Biden's connection to Burisma.” Official - Transitory UNCLASSIFIED Any concerns? Official - Transitory UNCLASSIFIED ‘Subject: FW: Meating request ETE Official UNCLASSIFIED From: Geysha Gonzalez [mailto Sent= Mandav November 21, 2016 11:42 AM To: [PN Ce: John Herbst Subject: Meeting request from Ambassador Herbst Dear[b)6) Hope this message finds you well! Ambassador Herbst was wondering if you might have some time to meet tomorrow to chat about Ukraine in general, but also Mr. Nicolai Zlochevskiy, who ‘owns Burisma, one of Ukraine's most significant natural gas producers.Please let me know if you have any availabilty Best, Geysha LS=1 Geysha Gonzalez | Assistant Director, Dinu Patriciv Eurasia Center 1030 15th Street, NW, 12th Floor | Washington, DC 20005 T: 1.202.599.8620) Email: (O\(6) wow. facebook.com/AtlanticCouncl | @ACEurasia | www AtlanticCouncil.org Sender: |"Kent, George P* {P°) bv Recipient: {°°NEY VYovanovitch, Marie L PS Kent, Georae P {°%) 9)(6) From: To: Subject: |FW? Ukrinform: Literally on the last days of his term, the US Vice President ECE ‘hoe Biden is going to Kyiv. How can we explain this attention to us? Date: |Sat, 7 Jan 2017 12:34:43 -0500 Ukrainian political scientists speculate on the purpose of the visit. Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone. From: Ibi@lbicompany.com.ua Sent: Friday, January 6, 2017 18:49 To: Kyiv, Media Alerts ‘Subject: Ukrinform: Literally on the last days of his term, the US Vice President Joe Biden is going to Kyiv. How can we explain this attention to us? Ukrinform: Literally on the last days of his term, the US Vice President Joe Biden is going to Kyiv. How can we explain this attention to us? 06.01.2016 US Vice President Joe Biden plans visiting Ukraine on January the 15‘. It’s quite unexpected news. Of course, we are not aware of the specific tasks, which Joe Biden wants to solve in Kyiv on January the 15°", There are only versions, a part of which are voices by the interviewed experts. We can only state the obvious: after Maidan, the value of Ukraine and problems related to it has increased sharply in the US foreign policy. All this time Joe Biden was the main one responsible (supervisor) in Obama's Administration for the policy towards Ukraine and he will always have some important things to discuss with the Ukrainian leaders. So, the question of Ukrinform is this: why the US Vice President Joe Biden is visiting Ukraine in the last week of his term? Viktor Nebozhenko, a political scientist len is getting prepared for the possible consideration of the issue of the effectiveness of aid to Ukraine in the US Congress” Donald Trump said that he will carry out an audit of investments in security and democracy in Ukraine. For 8 years the US Administration has turned a blind eye to ‘our corruption and gave a lot of money through the IMF and various funds. And all this has disappeared somewhere. Trump, as the new director of the company under the name of the United States, wants to know where that money went. Biden may become a subject of consideration in the US Congress on the effectiveness of aid to Ukraine, and then he will be asked where the money of the American taxpayers wentin Ukraine? Most likely, Biden is addressing this issue. Only this can explain his hasty interest in Ukraine, and not in any other country. Vadym Karasyov, a political scientist "Obama's Administration still has time to influence the IMF on the issue of the USD 1 billion tranche." First, there are personal reasons. Perhaps Biden is coming with a soothing visit due to the beginning of the work of the new US Administration to give Ukraine new instructions. Second, it’s the financial issue related to the IMF. Obama's Administration still has time to influence the IMF on the issue of the USD 1 billion tranche, which Ukraine was to receive in December. It is possible that Biden could bring good news to us. Third, Mr. Vice President has a business interest here and the former Vice President even more. Here, in the shale gas Burisma company, his son had been working at a time. Perhaps, the behind the scenes part of the visit can be attributed to the fact that the Ukrainian authorities guaranteed some business positions to the former Vice President and his family.” Volodymyr Fesenko, a political scientist “It is accepted in the American political tradition to make such farewell visits that have symbolic valu To remind Ukraine at the end of the activities of Obama's Administration that it has not been forgotten and it remains on the agenda of the American leadership. Yuliya Horban. Kyiv https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubri nezlim-tihim-slovom, htm! lityes/2152193: With best regards, LBI Team www. 1bicompany.com.ua (0g4) 501 (097) 479: (eve) Sender: YYovanoviteh, Mage PO Recipient: [kent George pf") b)(6)(b)(6) From: To: |kyiv, Sitrep Subject: |FW: ViceNews: CI Kiev's Heavyweight Boxing C hamp Mayor Wants to Knock ect! out Corruption in U kraine Date: |Sun, 24 Jan 2016 05:43:55 -0500 Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone. From: ibi@lbicompany.com.ua Sent: Sunday, January 24, 2016 12:06 PM To: Kyiv, Media Alerts ‘Subject: ViceNews: O Kiev’s Heavyweight Boxing Champ Mayor Wants to Knock Out Corruption in Ukraine Vice News BySamuel Oakford January 23, 2016 | 11:29 pm Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko has described the fight against corruption in Ukraine as an “illusion,” and called on the country's general prosecutor to jail more offenders. Klitschko, the former heavyweight boxing champion who was first elected mayor of Ukraine's capital city in 2014, spoke with VICE News at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, "The fight against corruption, it has to have clear rules — if somebody broke the rules, they have to take responsibility for that," said Klitschko. But the onus, he said, was on the country's widely-maligned general prosecutor, Viktor Shokin. “It's a problem, because the people expect, they [were] told [there would be] a fight against corruption, but it is illusion,” he said. "Who is in jail?" Klitschko's comments come amid increased scrutiny from Ukraine's Western allies, including the US, for failing to follow through on prosecutions after the Maidan revolution in early 2014. In September, American ambassador to Kiev Geoffrey Pyatt called out Shokin in front of business leaders gathered in the Ukrainian city of Odessa, Shokin's staff, said Pyatt, were "openly and aggressively undermining reform.” “There is one glaring problem that threatens all of the good work that regional leaders here in Odessa, in Kharkiy, in Lviv and elsewhere are doing,” said Pyatt. "That obstacle is the failure of the institution of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine to successfully fight internal corruption."Pyatt went on to highlight allegations levied against former Ecology Minister Mykola Zlochevsky, who is also the owner of the energy company Burisma Holdings. Zlochevsky is accused of stealing $23 million — money that was order seized by @ UK court. Shokin's office has been slow to assist British authorities, which Pyatt condemned. ‘An added wrinkle to the Zlochevsky case Is the employment of US Vice President Joe Biden's son Hunter, who serves on the board of Burisma. The company denies the hire was meant to influence or forestall possible investigations. Public opinion polls in Ukraine show that few citizens believe the new pro-Western government has sufficiently tackled bribery and graft. In December, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk was tackled by a parliamentarian during a speech in which he deflected criticism that the cabinet was not doing enough to fight corruption Klitschko, who was a leading figure in protests that saw the ouster of Ukraine's Kremlin-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych, said corruption was only one of the obstacles facing the country. Ukraine, he said, needed more time to meet its debt payments, including billions owed after a Western-led bailout. "Our economy right now is not healthy, and it is very difficult with all conditions we need a little bit more time, less interest,” he said. "We need more air for breathing.” ‘The mayor was part of a large Ukrainian delegation in Davos, including President Petro Poroshenko. On Thursday, Poroshenko met with the US vice president. According to Biden's office, the two discussed implementation of the September 2014 Minks agreement aimed at ending fighting in eastern Ukraine. Fighting between Russia-backed separatists and Kiev's military continues sporadically, but front lines. have remained mostly unchanged since last fall. Much of the talk at the World Economic Forum this year centered on plummeting oil prices, which have gravely weakened the economies of many dependent countries, including Russia. In his interview, Klitschko said Western countries had to double down on existing sanctions against Moscow at a time of possible Russian weakness, "The sanctions have to be prolonged," he said. "Everyone understands without money supporting separatists, without [the] propaganda war, brainwashing, without weapons deliveries," this conflict would never happen, said Klitschko, referencing Russia's role in Ukraine's east. The media, he said, "is the most important and dangerous weapon," claiming that the Russian press swayed the public toward supporting the Kremlin's military activities in Ukraine, "We Ukrainians don't want to go back to the USSR," he said. "We see our future in the European Union, as a European democratic country. It is our main goal." The 6'7" Klitschko met VICE News after a closed-door meeting with investors. Already a veteran of Davos — he's been more than five times — the mayor said he ‘came to sell Kiev to businesspeople gathered at the Swiss alpine town, "A lot of networking,” he said, describing the four day conference. In 2014, Klitschko was a leading candidate in presidential elections before he pulled ‘out and backed Poroshenko. Asked if he had aspirations of once more running for Ukraine's highest office, he said there was "no reason" to talk about it."It was just two months I was re-elected," said Klitschko. "The Kiev citizens trust me." Paraphrasing a joke his friend told him, the former boxer poured more cold water on the idea, asking, "How many presidents [are there] in the world, how many mayors. how many world champions?" http://redirect.state.sbu/2u! ://news.vice.com/article/kievs-heavyweight- boxing-champ-mayor-wants-to-knock-out-corruption-in-ukraine With best regards, LBI Team www. Ibicompany.com. ua (044) 501 sa 41 (097) 4739-13-50 Sender: {®X6) Recipient: |Kyiv, Sitrep NET From: |"Kent, George P” by6) 'Yovanovitch, Marie L Subject: |medvedchuk-linked vesti trolls Biden Date: |Tue, 17 Jan 2017 02:59:57 -0500 Burisma - gift that keeps on giving. (With medvedchuk affiliated Vesti pushing the trall ike storyline on visit day) From: Ibi@ lbicompany.com.ua Date: January 16, 2017 at 8:49:23 AM GMT+2, To: Kyiv, Media Alerts , Kyiv, Media Alerts Digest Subject: Review of Ukrainian Printed Press Review of Ukrainian Printed Mass Media January 16, 2017 1. Ukraine to Test Military Units in Rostov Region 2. NBU Head is Suspected of Fraud 3. Public Funding of Political Parties 4, P. Poroshenko Tries to Avoid Fall of his Ratings 5. J. Biden's Visit to Ukraine 6. Nomination Process for New National Police Chief 7. De-ukrainization in Donbas 8, B. Obama’s “Farewell” Sanctions. Ukraine to Test Military Units in Rostov Region Vesti: Russia has allowed Ukrainian inspectors to visit military formations and units of the Russian army, located in the Rostov region, from January 16 to 19. Segodnya: Unofficial information about a vast number of weapons and military equipment, including artillery, located in the border regions of the Russian Federation, has repeatedly appeared in the media, but the official Kremlin has never confirmed it. NBU Head is Suspected of Fraud Vesti: The National Anti-Corruption Bureau has opened proceedings against the head of the National Bank V. Gontareva and the Director of the Deposit Guarantee Fund K. Vorushilina, based on the GPO prosecutor V. Kutsenko’s report. V. Gontareva is suspected of fraud in the amount of approximately USD 315.6 billionPubl ical Parties Funding of Po! Segodnya: Ukrainian MPs will receive money from the state budget soon, as the NACP has already distributed UAH 398 million, provided for by law, among the six Parliamentary political forces. P. Poroshenko Tries to Avoid Fall of his Ratings Vesti: P. Poroshenko has reduced the number of his international contacts and ‘communication with the media to avoid hard questions and to stop his rating falling. He also disregarded the traditional press conference on the results of the outgoing year (or on the results of the "equator" of his presidential term). Vesti: Will J, Biden arrive to secure his son’s business? According to experts, J. Biden, as the unofficial curator of "the Ukrainian question", will give P. Poroshenko recommendations about working with the new US administration. Another aspect is, the protection of his own business interests. Nomination Process for New National Police CI Segodnya: The names of all the candidates for the post of the National Police chief, a list of 64 applicants, has been published by the Interior Ministry on its official website. The contest will start on January 18 and will be held in five stages. De-ukrainization in Donbas Segodnya: The new "authorities" of the occupied territories of Donbas and so-called "DNR" are trying to eradicate everything connected with the Ukrainian language, literature and art. B. Obama‘s “Farewell” Sanctions Segodnya: The 44th US President 8. Obama has secured at least for one more year the sanctions against Russia, Iran, Cuba, Libya, Zimbabwe and Venezuela. The document says that in relation to Moscow it is due to the annexation of Crimea and the Russian role in the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine. The US President-elect Donald Trump has stated that he will keep sanctions against Russia “at least for a while.” With best regards, LBI Team www. Ibicompany.com.ua (044) 501 58 41 (097) 479-13-5Sender: Kent, George Pf Recipient: [ere Voom waerf Od Yovanovitch, Marie L | 8