Anastasia Kotvitska was at a checkpoint in Vylok, according to Obozrevatel, when Hungarian customs discovered the bags with cash in American dollars and euros in a minivan. As well as $28 million, the suitcases were also reportedly filled with €1.3 million.
Kotvitska had been travelling with two Hungarian citizens as well as her mother Galina Kucher, sources told Obozrevatel.
A criminal case has now been opened by the State Bureau of Investigation accusing Kotvitska of not declaring the money, according to Ukrainian Pravda.
Kotvitska’s husband, who was once one of the wealthiest politicians in Ukraine, said the story is fake and “his money allegedly continues to be stored in Ukrainian banks,” an article published by Obozrevatel explained.
“I did not take anything out,” Kotvitsky said.
He told The Times that his wife was leaving Ukraine to give birth, but did not acknowledge that she had the money with her.
Businessman Seyar Kurshutov wrote about the incident in a Facebook post on March 20.
He said Ukrainian officials “didn’t notice” the bags.
“The Hungarians, in turn, noticed and after many hours of clashes, the amount had to be declared,” he wrote.
https://www.facebook.com/seyar.kurshutov/posts/311954811036476
He also included the names of customs officials involved, alleging they take payments of “3 to 7.5% depending on the amount.”
“In other western regions, the situation is no better,” he said. “The names of the customs officers and border guards involved in this business are well known in narrow circles.”
There has been no official response from customs, Ukrainian Pravda said, adding that the information was being verified.
Kotvitsky denied that his wife was detained.
Source: https://nationalpost.com/news/world/wife-of-former-ukrainian-politician-caught-with-28m-in-cash-at-hungarian-border-reports
