Schigol Yury Fedorovich

Schigol Yury Fedorovich

Education

He graduated from the University of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine in 2006 with a degree in law, in 2008-2009 he studied at the National Academy of the SBU, in 2017 he graduated from Alfred Nobel University with a degree in finance and credit.

Career

2007-2020

In 2007-2008 he worked at the Baryshev Tax Inspectorate of the Kyiv Region. In 2008-2020, he was an employee of the Security Service of Ukraine ( SBU), served in operational and senior positions.

On July 8, 2020, by order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, he was appointed head of the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine.

2023

Dismissal amid corruption scandal

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dismissed the head of the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection (Gosspetsvyaz) Yuriy Shchigol and his deputy Viktor Zhora, who were suspected of embezzling budget funds. This was reported on November 20, 2023 by the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) of Ukraine.

Detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine have been charged with seizing state funds in the amount of more than 62 million hryvnia [$1.7 million] to the chairman of the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine, his deputy and other officials, the SAP said in a statement published in the official Telegram channel of the department.

According to the prosecutor's office, in 2021-2022. the head and officials of Gosspetsvyaz purchased software for the needs of the department at inflated prices. Their actions were qualified as misappropriation and embezzlement of funds by a group of persons on a large scale using their official position. In total, six members of an organized criminal group are suspected of committing related crimes.^[1]

Dmitry Makovsky was appointed interim head of Gosspetsvyaz on November 20, 2023.

Discovery of $1.5 million on a crypto wallet during a search

In November 2023, Yuri Shchigol was detained in the case of major embezzlement. During searches, the ex-head State secure government line Ukraine found about $1.5 million in, to cryptocurrency including 6.9 bitcoin stablecoins USDT and $1.2 million. Also in his apartment were found $72 thousand and €82 thousand in cash, the prosecutor said at a court hearing.

According to the investigation, Yuri Shchigol, being the head of Gosspetsvyaz, entered into a conspiracy with the owner of the group of companies (its name was not disclosed) and during 2020-2022 made frauds with budgetary funds that were allocated for the purchase of equipment and software.

Yuri Shchigol

As the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine clarifies, two controlled companies were involved in the scheme, and the tender was held behind closed doors to guarantee their victory. According to law enforcement agencies, in total, the State Special Communications State Enterprise "Ukrainian Special Systems" concluded supply contracts in the amount of more than UAH 285 million, although the real cost of the software was UAH 223 million. The difference of more than UAH 62 million was withdrawn by the participants of the scheme to the accounts of foreign controlled companies.

Shchigol himself denies his guilt, during the arrest he stated the following:

I am sure that I can prove my own innocence during an unbiased investigation and directly in court. After all, all purchases of the service (Gosspetsvyaz) since 2020 have been carried out in compliance with the current legislation.

According to RBC, together with Shchigol, five people are involved in the case of property appropriation (part 5 of article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), including his deputy Viktor Zhor, who oversaw digitalization in Gosspetsvyaz.^[2]

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