Naftogaz Oil Trading LLC has stated that it manages the Glusco filling station chain in an efficient and transparent manner, while the decision of the Agency for Investigation and Management of Assets (ARMA) to terminate the management agreements is unlawful. The company sent its position with justification to ARMA on 7 August 2023, the U.GO. filling chain has said on Facebook.
Naftogaz Oil Trading notes that the termination of the contracts involved numerous legal violations, while the audit was carried out improperly. The position also maintains that ARMA's actions jeopardise the preservation of material evidence in the criminal proceedings against Viktor Medvedchuk and may result in significant fines.
Naftogaz Oil Trading points out that the company ensures the preservation of assets, information and property that serve as material evidence in criminal proceedings at its own expense. ARMA and Naftogaz Oil Trading LLC are parties to the merger clearance procedure, which is still ongoing.
In a statement, the company said that until further actions are agreed upon to comply with the provisions of the antimonopoly legislation of Ukraine, any actions to change the manager of the chain are unlawful and may result in significant penalties.
Naftogaz Oil Trading asks ARMA to act solely on the basis, within the scope of its powers and in the manner provided for by the constitution and laws of Ukraine.
The company calls on ARMA to cancel/revoke the letters of unilateral cancellation of asset management agreements and to provide Naftogaz Oil Trading with an opportunity to submit substantiated written explanations and supporting documents based on the findings of the desk audit.
Naftogaz also asks ARMA to inform the company about the date and place of the meeting of the relevant ARMA body that will consider the explanations and documents provided by Naftogaz Oil Trading and ensure that the company's representatives can participate in this meeting, as well as to involve representatives of the Ministry of Energy and the Office of the Prosecutor-General in the meeting.
On 4 August, Naftogaz Oil Trading LLC stated that it was effectively and transparently managing the GLUSCO petrol station network in response to ARMA's decision to terminate the contract with it.
The company's director, Volodymyr Bychkov, said that the company is preparing an appeal to the Cabinet of Ministers regarding the illegal termination of the asset management agreements by ARMA. In the meantime, it will continue to fulfil these contracts until the disputes are resolved.