Following the SSU’s investigation, the court seized Ukrainian assets of Vladimir Zotov, deputy chairman of Belgorod regional duma of russia, owner of Agro-Belogorye group of companies.

The official is involved in financing russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine.

The total value of the blocked property is over UAH 180 mln (USD 4.8 mln).

The arrested assets include the agricultural holding controlled by Zotov, located in Dnipropetrovsk and Kherson oblasts.

These are production and warehouse facilities with an area of over 13,000 square meters, 16 cars and almost UAH 4 mln in bank accounts.

According to the investigation, less than a year before russia’s full-scale invasion, Zotov formally withdrew himself from the co-founders of the Ukrainian holding and ‘re-registered’ the business to his relatives.

However, he fully retained control over the company’s activities, and part of its profits was directed to support the russian troops fighting against Ukraine.

Through the scheme, the official hoped to evade sanctions and criminal prosecution for crimes against Ukraine.

In addition, Zotov launched an information campaign in russia, in which he widely covered the provision of food ‘humanitarian aid’ to the russian military at the front on behalf of his companies.

He posted the messages on his Telegram channel and his page on the social network Vkontakte. Information about helping the occupiers is also posted on the official website of his corporation.

During the searches in the office of the Ukrainian agricultural holding controlled by Zotov, as well as at homes and vehicles of the company’s director and accountant, evidence of the suspect’s criminal activity was found.

SSU investigators notified Zotov of suspicion under Article 110-2 of the CCU (financing actions committed with the purpose of changing the boundaries of the territory or the state border of Ukraine in violation of the procedure established by the Constitution of Ukraine).

Efforts to bring the russian official to justice are underway; currently, he and his accomplices are on the territory of the aggressor state. The suspects are facing up to 10 years in prison.

The SSU carried out the investigation under the procedural supervision of Dnipropetrovsk Region Prosecutor’s Office.