Andriy Kobolyev (pictured) told Time that he is prepared to testify in a federal case involving Rudy Giuliani
The CEO of Ukraine’s state gas company, Naftogaz, revealed that he is willing to testify in a federal investigation that is analyzing the business dealings of Rudy Giuliani.
Naftogaz CEO Andriy Kobolyev told TIME: ‘I will with a high likelihood be invited to testify in this case. If I am called, I would be willing to come and testify
Giuliani is reportedly being probed by federal prosecutors for illegal lobbying and campaign finance violation after two of Giuliani’s associated were indicted last month.
Igor Fruman and Lev Parnas were picked up for violating campaign finance laws related to a $325,000 donation that went towards a group supporting President Donald Trump’s reelection in 2020.
Fruman and Parnas have pleaded not guilty to the accusations.
Thus far, Giuliani has not been charged with any crimes.
Rudy Giuliani, is being investigated by the federal government for possible illegal lobbying and campaign finance violations
Kobolyev’s closed door testimony could illuminate the recent allegations from both the U.S. and Ukrainian energy executives that Giuliani’s ‘fixers’ attempted to use their connection to the Trump administration to replace Naftogaz’s leadership.
The company has resisted efforts from the White House to secure a profitable gas deal with Ukraine.
The deal reportedly involved American exporting gas to Ukraine.
Lev Parnas (left) and Igor Fruman (right) have been indicted by U.S. federal investigators for a $325,000 donation that allegedly went to a group supporting Trump’s reelection
Kobolyev said that his testimony would likely include evidence regarding Giuliani, as well as Fruman and Parnas.
‘Both,’ the executive said, ‘everything is connected.’
Giuliani, Trump’s personal lawyer and apparent diplomatic envoy, has reportedly used his access to Ukraine for his own personal gains.
Times says Giuliani has worked with Fruman and Parnas on at least one occasion, but possibly more.
Pictured: Giuliani (left) and Parnas (right) sitting together at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C.
The most public incident involves the three men’s role in the Trump administration’s attempt to pressure the Ukrainian government to investigate the president’s political rival, former vice president Joe Biden.
The secret probe included an investigation in Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, who Trump and his constituents have railed against since the bombshell allegations were exposed by the whistleblower.
Hunter sat on the board for Burisma, a Ukrainian holdings company that saw him be paid as much as $50,000 a month.
Republicans claim that Hunter was involved in shady business dealings and that the Biden men used their political influence to achieve lucrative gains.
The Trump Impeachment began after a whistleblower said the Trump administration attempted to pressure Ukraine into investigating Joe Biden (left) and have targeted Hunter Biden (right), as well
There has been no reported evidence of this.
The whistleblower’s complaint led Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to formally approve an impeachment inquiry into the Trump.
In response to the allegations and subsequent investigation, Giuliani has vehemently denied culpability in any evidence unearthed.
He also denied any connection to Global Energy Producers, a gas company owned by Fruman and Parnas.
‘I have no personal interest in any business in Ukraine, including that business,’ he told the Wall Street Journal last week.
Giuliani (left) is currently acting as President Donald Trump’s (right) personal lawyer as both men face federal probes
On what exactly he will testify, Kobolyev declined to delve into what he will discuss before investigators.
‘I would not want to preempt my testimony,’ he told Time.
Kobolyev’s comments would come after Andrew Favorov, a Naftogaz executive, testified before investigators in New York City on Thursday.
Favorov’s remarks have not been made public yet.
‘He finished yesterday. He said it was a very unusual experience,’ the CEO said of Favorov.
Kobolyev said he will speak about Giuliani, Fruman and Parnas, but has declined to say exactly what it will entail
‘He said he has never gone through questioning like that. I also heard these guys are very, um, very hard, the southern district prosecutors. They’re some of the best in the states.’
CNN reported that federal prosecutors have been contacting Naftogaz associates as part of the investigation into Giuliani.
Although the ongoing investigation in Giuliani, Fruman and Parnas happening in New York, Kobolyev says the campaign to remove him from CEO could still be underway.
He said: ‘Some pressure does probably exist, but whether it is connected to past events, something that is still inertia from what happened, from attempts that took place in the spring, I can’t say for sure.’
It is not clear if and when Kobolyev will meet with investigators.