Petro Poroshenko, the new president of Ukraine, was born in Bolgrad, Odessa region, a small town just a few kilometers from Romania, mainly inhabited by Bessarabian Bulgarians. The press wrote that, due to his past, among Romanians, the new head of the neighboring country speaks fluent Romanian, demonstrating his skills at a recent election campaign. However, Petro Poroshenko is close to Moldova not only linguistic. In the past, he had officially more business here. His traces are still preserved at Trade House “Gemini” in Chisinau or at the Factory “Bucuria”. Some companies, managed by Ukrainian citizens, who seem to have links to newly Ukrainian president, have their headquarters inside the store “Gemini” or factory “Bucuria”.

Now, press is presenting Petro Poroshenko as a true savior of Ukraine, the man who can stop the war and lead Ukraine into the EU. A recognized billionaire with an estimated wealth of $1.6 billion in 2013, Poroschencko is known primarily as the owner of the chocolate factory “Roshen”, being called by the press “Chocolate King”. In fact, he has businesses in several areas, such as arms production, shipbuilding or the media, the owner of Channel 5, a highly watched TV channel in Ukraine. Poroshenko based his businesses in the early 90s, after the collapse of the USSR, being considered an “ace” of privatization.

Tarlev about Poroshenko

In 2005, ZdG wrote about the current president of Ukraine and his relations with Moldova. Then, Poroschencko was removed as head of Security from Ukraine, and in his name were initiated several criminal cases. Then, press from the neighbor stated was saying that the Prosecutor General of Ukraine addressed with a special request to the Prosecutor General’s Office in Chisinau, requesting information about Poroshenko’s businesses on the territory of Moldova, businesses unfolding not only in Chisinau, but also in the region Transnistria. Kiev edition of the newspaper “Komsomolskaya Pravda” wrote, back then, that Alexei, father of Petro Poroshenko, a great communist leader, was, on the recommendation of the party, at the head of an experimental factory from Bender, for many years. Got to know the specific of the area and subsequently seized several factories in the area.

In Chisinau, name of Petro Poroshenko was linked, most often, to the House of Commerce “Gemini” and candy factory “Bucuria”. Ilie Rotaru, former store manager at “Gemini”, argues that Porosenko had links with the shopping center and that, possibly have them today. Vasile Tarlev, former manager of the factory “Bucuria”, the longest running prime minister in the history of Moldova, remembers that the big brother of the current president of Ukraine, Nikolai, who died suspiciously in 1997, while on a holiday in Turkey, was one of the leaders of a privatization fund from Moldova. “Through that fund, they had a share of stock in “Bucuria”, where I worked as director. After his brother died, who was a really good boy, his actions were taken by Petro, the current president. A period of time, not too long, he managed shares at “Bucuria” and then sold them. That’s all. Now, for sure, he has no shares there. Did not have since the time I left the director post to the function of premier. Then he was coming here. We were talking, at meetings, gatherings. I was talking to him in Russian. Perhaps he was knowing something (Romanian language, no), I can not confirm or deny. I was also talking to him in English. At least he knows English better than me”, says Vasile Tarlev.

Funds, involved in dozens of businesses

Former prime minister, although says that he does not remember the name of privatization fund, or investment, as it was called officially, he referred, most likely, to “Bucuria-Invest”, which privatized, in the late 90s, very suspect, about 60% of the shares of candy factory. Poroshenko family also owned another investment fund, “Bucuria Privat-Invest”, through which participated in the privatization of other factories in Moldova. Through the latter, the family of current president developed in Moldova veritable businesses. According to a document of the National Commission of Estate Properties Values of the Republic of Moldova, of 27th of December 2002, on the results of controls of FINN “Bucuria Privatinvest”, fund had direct links with dozens of factories from Moldova: JSC “Aschim”, JSC “Cement”, JSC “Glass Factory in Chisinau”, JSC “Cannery Glodeni”, JSC “Moldcarton”, JSC “Cannery Anenii Noi”, JSC” Sugar factory from Ghindesti”, JSC ” Gainusa “, JSC ” Butter factory from Taraclia”, JSC ” CPC Chisinau “, JSC “Furniture Factory from Balti”, JSC ” Gemenii ” or JSC ” Bucuria “. The shares of the representatives of investment fund came to the attention of law enforcement, but the results are not known.

According to the State Registration Chamber (SRC), “Bucuria-Invest” is not removed from the traders register till this day. Founded in 1993, it is headquartered on Shtefan cel Mare 136, in the premises of the Trade House “Gemini”, and is led by Iliciuc Iurie Nicholas, a Ukrainian who lived in Moldova and in 2004, according to a decree of President Voronin, dropped the citizenship of Moldova. A few days ago, the media wrote that Poroshenko still hold shares in JSC “Gemini” through the company “Geomold”, which holds 47.86% of shares. According to SRC, the company, founded in November 2007, is managed by Oleksii Moskalenko, another Ukrainian citizen. But the founder is an offshore from Cyprus, Tamarix Limited, with a registered capital of over 52 million lei. In 2005, some shareholders of JSC “Gemini”  were claiming that Poroshenko holds actions namely through an off-shore. We tried to talk to Alexandru Oprea, the current administrator of JSC “Gemini”, but he did not respond to ZdG calls.

Ukrainians lead footsteps of Poroshenko

According to some documents from the website rotaru.md Petro Poroshenko, in 1999, held, through another offshore,  Agropodimpex Cyprus Limited from Cyprus, shares at glass factory from Chisinau. Currently, it is owned by the state, but, in the past, was, for a short period of time, taken by this company, which had at the back Poroshenko. There are people who argue that the current president of Ukraine was forced by the state authorities, especially by the former president, Vladimir Voronin, to return the company, being threatened with criminal cases. Memberships of Cyprus offshore to current president is demonstrated by the fact that the same off-shore holds 25% at TV station Channel 5, which Poroshenko recognizes he owns.

Other documents posted on the same website shows that Poroshenko held shares at JSC “Bucuria” through another offshore, Oakley Group Limited, from Ireland. According to the Chamber, this offshore founded in 1998, in Moldova, enterprise with foreign capital “Oakley Molimpex” Ltd, and Ltd “Conditerinvest”, in 1997. Here also appears as administrator a ucranian citizen, Alexandr Vdovicenco. Surprise continues, according to documents from SRC, the headquarters of both companies is on 162 Columna Street, right in premises of the factory “Bucuria”. Moreover, Alexander Vdovicenco appears in several documents as a person who would conduct businesses with funds of Poroshenko family. ZdG tried to discuss the subject, with Roman Treachin, director of factory “Bucuria”, but, from the waiting room, after we were asked for details about the subject that we woud like to discuss, we were asked the number of phone, with the promise that we will be contacted. By the end of the edition, this has not happened.

Meanwhile, in Moldova there is, basically, a branch of the factory “Roshen”, owned by Petro Poroshenko. This is called Ltd “Roshenmol” and is founded and managed by a certain Vladimir Ioncu, involved in other two companies that have businesses with the brand “Roshen”.