Energy pseudo-expert Viktor Kurtyev hides behind a letter from the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) to avoid repaying debts owed by his company “Metropolia” to contractors.
This was reported by the portal Znaj.ua.
This became known from the ruling of the Commercial Court of Kyiv dated May 5, 2023.
LLC “Woodenergo” filed a lawsuit against LLC “Scientific and Technical Company ‘Metropolia’” regarding a debt of 300,000 hryvnias, which Kurtev’s company has not repaid since 2021.
To force “Metropolia” to pay, representatives of “Woodenergo” requested the court to prohibit the company’s owner and director, Viktor Kurtyev, from leaving the country.
To avoid losing this privilege and continue not repaying the debt, Kurtyev provided the court with a certificate from the National Security and Defence Council (NSDC), as well as a letter from the Main Intelligence Directorate (DIU) stating that he is an agent of Kyrylo Budanov.
“The mentioned petition includes a copy of the NSDC order dated March 23, 2023, No. 12, on amendments to the composition of the Working Group on the Development of Hydrogen Economy and Advanced Nuclear Technologies. According to this order, PERSON_1 is a member of the specified working group. Additionally, a copy of a letter dated April 6, 2023, No. 222/768, signed by the Head of the DIU of the Ministry of Defence, Major General K. Budanov, was provided. According to the content of this letter, PERSON_1 crosses the Ukrainian border in connection with tasks performed in the interests of the DIU of the Ministry of Defence,” as stated in the court materials.
Photo: reyestr.court.gov.ua
Viktor Kurtyev also used his status as a father of many children as a shield. At the court, he stated that two of his five children live outside Ukraine, and therefore he has a need to travel abroad.
Against the certificates from Budanov and the NSDC, the court proved powerless, and thus the request by “Woodenergo” representatives to prohibit Viktor Kurtyev from leaving the country was denied.
It was also revealed during the court proceedings that “Metropolia” has debts to other companies as well.
According to data from the portal Clarity Project, NTC “Metropolia” has been a participant in several dozen court cases and enforcement proceedings as a debtor over the past few years. During various periods, “Metropolia’s” debts ranged from 1 to 4 million hryvnias.
In particular, NTC “Metropolia” owes over 3 million hryvnias to the state budget. At the same time, “Metropolia” is one of the largest contractors for Ukrainian distribution system operators, having won tenders worth over 15 million hryvnias in the last 5 years.