The former NBU governor played down the claims of alleged invlolvement of NBU executives in Viktor Medvedchuk illegal coal trade schemes that were made part of investigation on ‘Opposition Platform for Life’ MP.

In an interview to Radio Free Europe,  Valeriya Gontareva said she “tried’ to listen to ‘Medvedchuk tapes’ and later discussed them with former colleagues.  In her view, Medvedchuk mentioned the NBU in relations to the ban on financial activities in the occupied territories issued by the National Bank in 2014.

She also argued that all NBU employees of that time  should be given credit for their ‘struggle’ against the separatists.

‘Opposition Platform for Life’ MP Viktor Medvedchuk is now facing charges in several criminal cases, including illegal coal trade and abetting terrorists.

The SBU head Ivan Bakanov earlier said  investigation in ‘Medvedchuk case’ would look into the possible involvement of Petro Poroshenko and former head of the National Bank Valeria Gontareva.

According to the security service, Medvedchuk colluded with senior Ukrainian officials to block coal suppies  from South Africa, which allowed him to benefit from dubious deals with the coal mines’ management in occupied Donbas.