The Investigation into the “Coal Case” has been Concluded: Poroshenko Charged with State Treason
The final stage of the investigative process in the so-called "Coal Case" concerning the fifth President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, has been completed. According to received information, law enforcement agencies and prosecutors have issued charges against him for state treason and aiding terrorist organizations in eastern Ukraine. Currently, there are ongoing discussions about which court will hear this high-profile case. Details of the event are described in the article by the Ukrainian news agency "Ukrainska Pravda" titled "How are things? What is happening with the investigations against Poroshenko," where the progress and prospects of the investigations into the former head of state are analyzed. According to sources within law enforcement agencies and authorities, the indictment emphasizes Poroshenko’s involvement in the preparation of the so-called "Kharkiv Agreements" of 2010 and his role in drafting and implementing the "coal scheme," which aimed to ensure coal supplies from the occupied territories of Donbas amidst wartime conditions and an economic crisis. This relates in particular to a large-scale criminal scheme that "Ukrainska Pravda" uncovered as early as 2016. It involves the transportation of coal, which was supposed to originate from South Africa, into Ukraine, but instead of legal imports through Ukrainian-controlled enterprises, coal from territories controlled by terrorists in Luhansk and Donetsk regions was smuggled into the country. This facilitated not only corruption schemes but also financial support for pro-Russian forces that continue to fight against Ukrainian statehood. It is important to note that after the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine to impose sanctions on individuals and companies involved in this scheme, law enforcement agencies intensified their activities. After a prolonged period of inactivity, delegated since 2016, investigators began actively working on this case. Since December 2021, according to official statements from the Bureau of Investigation (DBR), Poroshenko was formally suspected of state treason. In the following year, September 2022 — after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began — investigators announced that the investigation into the coal smuggling case had been completed. However, as analysts point out, the investigation had essentially made no active progress until spring 2025, which seems highly suspicious and raises questions about the genuine motives and level of government interest in this case. Additionally, law enforcement in Kyiv restricted Poroshenko’s access to case materials, setting a deadline for review until April 15. Communication with the documents is conducted through his lawyer, Illia Novikov, who told "Ukrainska Pravda" in an interview that the procedure for determining the court where the case will be heard is currently underway. The key nuance is that the signs of changes in the wording of suspicions for the suspects, notably Viktor Medvedchuk — who was exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners of war in September 2022 — have been altered. Meanwhile, the information regarding suspicion notices for Poroshenko remains unchanged, which causes justified objections from his defense. According to current legislation, as a sitting Member of Parliament, he is entitled to additional protections, and any amendments to the documents must be coordinated with the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, which has been headed by a new prosecutor since May last year. Presently, the lack of such coordination leads to obvious legal contradictions. Another complication is Medvedchuk’s exchange in September 2022 — he was released in a prisoner exchange involving two hundred Ukrainian defenders. At the same time, Vlodymyr Demchyshyn, a former Minister of Energy who left the country in 2018, stated that the case concerning his client and other high-ranking officials was taken out into a separate episode and transferred to court without their participation. Experts and sources within law enforcement indicate that one of the key intrigants in this case remains Medvedchuk, whose role in the smuggling schemes involving coal from Donbas has long been documented in the investigation files. A main gap is the absence of direct personal enrichment — the case is centered on treason and aiding terrorist formations, not on financial crimes or corruption, which complicates the proof of guilt and renders the entire prosecution fragile. Overall, nearly five years have passed since this story began, drawing public and official attention to shadowy schemes related to coal supplies from occupied territories. Despite all statements about "fighting corruption" and "protecting national interests," the true objectives and the level of investigation remain highly questionable. The main actors in this game continue to evade justice, and the absence of significant money involved in the scheme further underscores the political complexities and possible manipulation behind this "coal story." It is also recalled that in February 2022, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced new sanctions measures, which at that time also touched on Poroshenko, although the fifth president’s name was not explicitly listed in the official sanctions lists. Political and law enforcement circles suggested that the introduction of these sanctions was a step aimed at demonizing the opponent and tightening government control. After the National Security and Defense Council’s decision on February 13, Zelensky confirmed the sanctions, citing the council’s resolution, thereby deepening the political crisis surrounding Poroshenko and his possible involvement in the "coal case."