Confectionery tycoon turned President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, one of the most high-profile names in the ‘Panama Papers’ data leak, is
ADVERTISEMENTConfectionery tycoon turned President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, one of the most high-profile names in the ‘Panama Papers’ data leak, is maintaining that he did nothing wrong.
Speaking in Japan on Wednesday, he denied putting assets in an offshore trust – or SPV – to minimise taxes.
“Immediately when I became president, I declared that all my businesses I put in the absolutely transparent blind trust of the biggest investor bank in the world. Now I can mention this bank. This is Rothschild Bank,” Poroshenko told reporters in Tokyo.
“The SPV has absolutely normal practice… not for minimising the taxes, not secretly, nothing.”
He added: “This company did not get a penny from Ukraine and the only purpose of that was a transparent separation of business of the Ukrainian President from any political influence.
As Ukraine’s tax authorities said they would be examining documents relating to Poroshenko’s offshore assets, he insisted on his commitment to transparency.
“I plan to introduce the significant reform which can make impossible…using offshore companies and offshore accounts in Ukraine. And this is the significant part of my next step of my reform programme,” he said.
Poroshenko had already taken to Twitter to defend himself.
I believe I might be the first top official in Ukraine who treats declaring of assets, paying taxes, conflict of interest issues seriously
— Петро Порошенко (@poroshenko) 4 avril 2016
It is claimed Poroshenko set up an offshore firm to move his confectionery business, Roshen, to the British Virgin Islands in August 2014 during a peak in fighting between Ukraine and pro-Russian
rebels.
He insists he handed over the management of his assets to consulting and law firms on taking office.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko defends offshore assets amid Panama report leak https://t.co/2kt9ue9ItZpic.twitter.com/oldf8dNWkl
— Bloomberg (@business) 4 avril 2016
Poroshenko has already faced criticism for not selling Roshen despite promising to do so.