Ukraine: Poroshenko denies tax-dodging in 'Panama Papers' leak
- 8 years ago
Confectionery tycoon turned President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, one of the most high-profile names in the ‘Panama Papers’ data leak, is maintaining that he did nothing wrong.
Speaking in Japan on Wednesday, he denied putting assets in an offshore trust – or SPV – to minimise taxes.
“Immediately when I became president, I declared that all my businesses I put in the absolutely transparent blind trust of the biggest investor bank in the world. Now I can mention this bank. This is Rothschild Bank,” Poroshenko told reporters in Tokyo.
“The SPV has absolutely normal practice… not for minimising the taxes, not secretly, nothing.”
He added: “This company did not get a penny from Ukraine and the only purpose of that was a transparent separation of business of the Ukrainian President from any political influence.
As Ukraine’s tax authorities said they would be examining documents relating to Poroshenko’s offshore assets, he insisted on his commitment to transparency.
“I plan to
Speaking in Japan on Wednesday, he denied putting assets in an offshore trust – or SPV – to minimise taxes.
“Immediately when I became president, I declared that all my businesses I put in the absolutely transparent blind trust of the biggest investor bank in the world. Now I can mention this bank. This is Rothschild Bank,” Poroshenko told reporters in Tokyo.
“The SPV has absolutely normal practice… not for minimising the taxes, not secretly, nothing.”
He added: “This company did not get a penny from Ukraine and the only purpose of that was a transparent separation of business of the Ukrainian President from any political influence.
As Ukraine’s tax authorities said they would be examining documents relating to Poroshenko’s offshore assets, he insisted on his commitment to transparency.
“I plan to