Hot topics:

Was Rabynovych in Kyiv?

27 July, 00:00

Vadym Rabynovych was supposed to land in Kyiv at 10 p.m. Saturday. In a telephone conversation with The Day's Oksana PANCHENKO, Mr. Rabynovych said that his visit to Ukraine (from which he was barred entry) was connected with his personal interests in this country. The ban, announced by the SBU press service, in his words, cannot prevent him from visiting, because the 5-year ban had to take legal effect before being announced. "I have a one-year visa, and it is still valid," the outcast oligarch said. Oleksandr Skrypnyk, deputy head of the SBU press service, was laconic, commenting only that Mr. Rabynovych's intentions were known be those who need to.

Unfortunately, Mr. Rabynovych was unable to make his scheduled charter flight due to ill health. Stolichnie novosti editor-in-chief Volodymyr Katsman told The Day that as the magnate boarded his jet he suffered a heart attack, and the doctors ordered he be hospitalized. "Twenty days of treatment as a result of a month of frayed nerves," said Mr. Katsman. Mr. Katsman also added that Mr. Rabynovych had received the go-ahead from Ukrainian customs authorities, border services, and that this was made possible by consent of the SBU, which has "some questions" for the Israeli businessman.

Other versions claim that the man was seen in Kyiv's Boryspil Airport as President Kuchma was flying off to the Crimea. However, according to unconfirmed reports, the President's plane was delayed in Kyiv an hour and a half. Could such an encounter have been the reason Mr. Rabynovych flew to Kyiv? It is unknown whether they met, but it is obvious that Rabynovych never stepped foot outside. Presidential press secretary Oleksandr Martynenko told The Day's correspondent that such information cannot be released.

See our telephone interview with Vadym Rabynovych on page Day after Day. Regrettably, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Volodymyr Horbulin made great effort not to comment on this for The Day.

Newspaper output №:

№28, (1999)

Section

Day After Day