How a suspected collaborator hides behind volunteering and disability: the case of Denis Paramonov

Cases in which individuals suspected of collaboration are enjoying privileges and protection that even defense lawyers and their families are in part not afforded are becoming increasingly prominent. “Zhdunov” become “sincere patriots”, healthy men become “people with disabilities”, and collaborators become volunteers.

Below is about one of these cases. We present facts that may embody the above examples.

The Security Service of Ukraine is investigating the case of possible collaboration activities of businessman and philanthropist Denis Paramonov. The hero of the investigation himself, despite being on the wanted list, is in Ukraine.

According to sources, at the initiative of the Central Directorate of the SBU, proceedings have been opened regarding Paramonov’s collaboration activities.

Denis Paramonov is the owner of the SMK-group holding (which includes Saltovsky, Berdyansky, Bogodukhovsky and Kiev meat processing plants and the Rassvet agricultural company), a chain of grocery stores and the Cooker online store.

There is information that Paramonov is suspected of still controlling, through proxies, LLC “BERDYANSK MEAT PROCESSING PLANT” and LLC “BERDYANSK KOVBASSY”, which operate in the temporarily occupied territory of the Zaporozhye region.

From July 19 to September 14 of this year, Paramonov was wanted as a person hiding from the pre-trial investigation authorities based on the materials of ERDR No. 42022110000000490 dated December 19, 2022 under Part 4 of Article 111-1 (collaboration activities).

It has been established that the owner of the SMK Group holding, D.Yu. Paramonov. after the Russian occupation of part of the territory in the Zaporozhye region, for further control of its own enterprises and production facilities in the city of Berdyansk, it re-registered legal business entities as controlled entities and organized the production of meat products, which are sold in the territory not controlled by Ukraine, as well as in the places of deployment of the Russian military.

According to the investigation, Paramonov, together with his proxies, Yegor Tolok and Gennady Babayan, provides assistance to the occupation authorities of the Russian Federation in the temporarily occupied territory of the Zaporozhye region, namely in Berdyansk. He transferred his own assets of Berdyansk Meat Processing Plant LLC and Berdyansk Sausages LLC to the indicated persons.

Paramonov's plant in the city continues to operate, selling its meat products to the occupying forces. Both enterprises were re-registered under Russian legislation. Taxes are accordingly also paid to the occupation administration. Contributes to the activities of Berdyansk Meat Processing Plant LLC and Berdyansk Sausages LLC, the so-called. Chairman of the so-called Council of Ministers of the Military-Civil Administration of the Zaporozhye Region Anton Koltsov, who even forms an order for the production and supply of meat products to the Russian occupation authorities of the Zaporozhye region.

In order to prevent the loss of Berdyansk Meat Processing Plant LLC and Berdyansk Sausages LLC, on the initiative of Paramonov, the company DJP Invest OU was registered in Estonia, a member of the board of which is Vladimir Yurievich Masalov, and the formal owner is Babayan, who became the founder of Berdyansk Meat Processing Plant LLC. (Director G.L. Babayan) and Berdyansk Sausages LLC (Director Tolok E.A.), and the final beneficiary is Denis Paramonov.

When asked, the SBU only confirmed that the case was being investigated.

According to the ERDR, the latest decision in the case is the resolution dated August 25, 2023: apply to Paramonov D.Yu. preventive measure in the form of detention in the State Institution "Kiev Pre-trial Detention Center", from the moment of detention on 08/23/2023 to 10/06/2023, determine the amount of bail in the amount of 300,000 UAH, which can be paid either by the suspect himself or by another individual or legal entity (mortgagor).

According to data, Paramonov waited out this period in Warsaw, from where he returned about a month ago. Does this return mean the actual completion of criminal proceedings, even if they formally exist? Neither the SBU nor Paramonov refuse to talk. Interestingly, the return of the fugitive businessman was preceded by a massive PR information campaign that highlighted him as a philanthropist. Thus, the Paramonov Foundation raffled off a Bentley car, which had belonged to a businessman for the last few years, among “donators,” and the money was supposed to go to help hospitals. According to minimal calculations, such a campaign in the media and telegram channels could cost several million hryvnia.

The editors have information about Denis Paramonov crossing the Ukrainian border to leave. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Denis Paramonov has crossed the border almost 30 times.

It is noteworthy that until the end of October-November 2022, he left the country using the Shlyakh system. But at the end of last year he received the status of a person with a 2nd group disability.

After this moment, he traveled exclusively as a person with a disability.

Paramonov himself is now known as a philanthropist - he helps the settlements of the Kharkov region affected by the Russian Federation (which is typical - without indicating the perpetrators of the tragedy), the Kharkov Regional State Administration expresses gratitude to him, and a former employee of the administration recently took the position of head of the businessman's foundation.

On October 25, the press service of the Denis Paramonov Charitable Foundation promised to provide us with a comment regarding the mentioned SBU investigation, but so far it has stated a lack of communication from its side. One can consider this silence eloquent. Can silence on the part of government bodies be considered such?