Kurtyev uses Budanov to avoid paying debts and travel abroad

Kurtyev uses Budanov to avoid paying debts and travel abroad

The owner of the Ukrainian “Scientific and Technical Company ‘Metropolia’” Viktor Kurtyev, in order to avoid repaying debts to its counterparties, claims in courts that he is an agent of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) and uses a letter from Kyrylo Budanov as a shield. At the same time, “Metropolia” is one of the largest contractors for Ukrainian regional energy companies, having won tenders worth over 15 billion UAH in the last 5 years.

In particular, STC “Metropolia” owes the state budget more than 3 million UAH. Currently, tax authorities are attempting to recover these funds through enforcement proceedings.

Tax authorities are trying to force “Metropolia” to pay into the budget. Photo: Unified Register of Debtors

However, the most intriguing case is a lawsuit against “Metropolia” by LLC “Woodenergo,” to which Kurtyev’s company has owed 300,000 UAH since 2021. Representatives of “Woodenergo” in 2023 attempted through the court to prohibit its 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) and a letter from the Main Intelligence Directorate stating that he is an agent of Kyrylo Budanov.

“The aforementioned petition includes a copy of the NSDC order dated 23.03.2023 No. 12 on amendments to the composition of the Working Group on the Development of Hydrogen Economy and Advanced Nuclear Technologies. According to the specified order, PERSON_1 is a member of the said working group. Additionally, a copy of a letter dated 06.04.2023 No. 222/768, signed by the Head of the DIU of the Ministry of Defence, Major General Budanov K., was provided, stating that PERSON_1 crosses the Ukrainian border in connection with performing tasks in the interests of the DIU of the Ministry of Defence,” as noted in the court materials.

Kurtyev turned out to be a DIU agent who travels abroad on behalf of Budanov. Photo: reyestr.court.gov.ua

Kurtyev also used his status as a father of many children as a defense. He told the judge 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.

During the court proceedings, it also became clear that “Metropolia” has debts to other companies as well. However, proving that Kurtyev’s company is a malicious non-payer turned out to be impossible, as for one of the older debts, “Metropolia” paid a mere 20,000 UAH. “Thus, it appears that the debtor is taking measures and actions to fulfill its obligations,” as stated in the court decision.

According to data from the Clarity Project portal, STC “Metropolia” has been involved in several dozen court cases and enforcement proceedings as a debtor over the past few years. In some cases, “Metropolia’s” debts ranged from 1 to 4 billion UAH.

Author: Yuliya Strelchuk