Mykhailo Gonchar, the president of the Centre for Global Studies "Strategy XXI", comments to "Public Radio": I would not give him laurels of father of gas corruption in Ukraine, he was not he alone. Yes, he was one of the pioneers, maybe. In 1998 he was appointed to the post of the head of Naftogaz of Ukraine. Undoubtedly, the main motive behind the creation of Naftogaz of Ukraine by the authorities was to centralize the financial flows of the industry and use them for the benefit of the authorities. Moreover, the presidential elections were approaching.

Bakai himself formed a rather adventurous business reputation in the 90's thanks to peculiar schemes for the purchase of Turkmen gas. The Turkmen had a lot of gas, and in Ukraine there was no money, so there were different schemes, the essence of which was to foist different trash on the Turkmens, but to get gas, which can then be resold at completely another price base. Thus, to receive huge profits.

It is possible to mention the sale from the warehouses of various trash such as rubber galoshes, some kind of gas masks for the depreciated property of the Ministry of Defense, or the sale of high-tech products.

You can listen to the full version of the conversation in the attached audio file.