Vienna court refused to extradite US Firtash

During the trial, Firtash made a number of resonant statements. In particular, the businessman confirmed his meeting with the then possible candidates for the presidency of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko and Vitaliy Klitschko, which was held in Vienna at the beginning of 2014.

At the same time, Firtash refused to disclose the details of this meeting, noting that he had signed “confidential commitments”. The businessman admitted that he initiated this meeting to prevent former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko from coming to power.

“I can say that we have achieved what we wanted. Poroshenko became president, Klitschko - mayor, ”he added.

According to him, after the flight of Viktor Yanukovich, a niche in power was formed, and the United States supported the strength of Yulia Tymoshenko, Arseny Yatsenyuk and Oleksandr Turchynov. In this case, the businessman himself supported Klitschko - since the 2012 year. It was then, the oligarch said, that he realized that Viktor Yanukovych would not carry out reforms in the country.

“I thought that I needed a new candidate for 2015 year ... I found such a candidate. It was Vitali Klitschko, ”he told the court. However, he said that he did not finance Yanukovych.

Firtash also said that even during the time of the second premiership of Yulia Tymoshenko (in 2007 - 2010), the United States intended to oust him from the gas industry. According to him, this was due to the fact that he did not converge with Tymoshenko.

“I believe that Ukraine should be independent, neutral, have the same relations with the Russian Federation and the EU. She (Tymoshenko - ed.) Does not think so. The premiership and the presidency were important to her, ”said the oligarch.

The businessman said that the US, before Tymoshenko’s second premiership, insisted that he be removed from the gas market. He also talked about secret meetings with Tymoshenko before the 2010 elections of the year.

“She told me directly - move away from Yanukovych and support me. You understand that America will not leave you alone, ”Firtash quoted the words of Tymoshenko.

Firtash also said that Yanukovich in November 2014 of the year confirmed his intention to sign an association agreement with the European Union. According to the oligarch, this promise was then made by the President on November 4 to Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland. In addition, according to the businessman, Yanukovych promised to release Tymoshenko for treatment and give the American Chevron Corporation a large gas field in the Kharkiv region. Firtash stated that at the time of these promises there was a US request for his arrest in Vienna. According to him, after these promises of Yanukovych, this supposedly existing request was withdrawn.

“America blackmailed Yanukovich with a case against me,” the oligarch said.