Foreign citizenship won't block sanctions on Mindich, Tsukerman – NSDC

The center did not name the individuals, but case materials point to Timur Mindich and Oleksandr Tsukerman, against whom President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a sanctions decree.

In a statement citing Zelenskyy's sanctions policy commissioner Vladyslav Vlasiuk, the center said the measures include a standard package of sanctions, such as blocking assets on Ukrainian territory, regardless of the targets' citizenship.

"The sanctions term is three years (indefinite for award revocations)," Vlasiuk said.

“No entry ban. Standard set and term of sanctions, including full asset blocking (immediate effect). Applied to individuals with confirmed foreign citizenship.”

The statement added that noting foreign citizenship would enable asset blocking in overseas jurisdictions. Mindich and Tsukerman both hold Israeli citizenship.

"Moreover, the sanctions actually block assets in Ukraine. Claims that they 'do not apply to Ukrainian property' are manipulations that do not correspond to reality," the center concluded.

On Nov. 13, Zelenskyy imposed sanctions against Mindich and Tsukerman. The decree's annex specifies some measures for three years and others indefinitely.

The attached document lists both men's citizenship as that of the State of Israel.

On Nov. 11, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said the government had approved a submission to the National Security and Defense Council recommending sanctions against Mindich and Tsukerman, figures in the Midas case.

On Nov. 10, NABU detectives raided Mindich's properties — hours after he left Ukraine — as well as those of former energy minister and current justice minister German Halushchenko and the state nuclear firm Energoatom. Mindich fled Ukraine hours before the searches.

NABU said the Midas operation documented a "high-level criminal organization" led by a "well-known media businessman." The group built a large-scale corruption scheme to influence Energoatom and demanded 10-15% kickbacks from the company's contractors.

Five case figures were arrested and ordered held in pre-trial detention with bail options, including former energy minister adviser Ihor Myroniuk, Energoatom security executive Dmytro Basov and back-office staff.

Zelenskyy said all those responsible must receive verdicts. He also imposed sanctions against Mindich and Tsukerman.