The controversial Ukrainian MP who has visited Washington D.C. at least three times since the summer of 2017, meeting with Congressmen and at least one Senator, has employed directors for his Cyprus businesses that allegedly aided the Russian government in the tax fraud scheme that was uncovered by Sergei Magnitsky. The murder of Magnitsky in a Russian prison led to the 2012 Magnitsky Act that sanctioned Russian officials responsible for his death.

Serhiy Rybalka had private meetings with Republican leaders in D.C., including GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy, Congressmen Royce and Pittenger, and Senator Daines. Previous reporting has detailed the meetings in September and January. It is unclear with whom Rybalka met in his most recent trips to the States. Jamie Bowers, Congressman Pittenger’s Communications Director, said that Pittenger did not meet with Rybalka during his January visit.

Investigations into Rybalka’s businesses

Rybalka is under investigation in Ukraine for money laundering, tax fraud, and supporting Russian terrorists occupying Eastern Ukraine. He is the founder of the S. Group — a company that produces snack foods and various household items. Since taking office, Rybalka has allowed family members, including his brother and father to take control of the business. However, Rybalka recently updated his income disclosures to include almost half a million dollars in royalties from his snack conglomerate, indicating a continued engagement with his companies.

The Ukrainian National News Agency (UNN) in late 2016 and early 2017 revealed that S Group products were being sold in Russian-occupied territories, and that “clone companies” using a factory in Russia were manufacturing these products under trademarks owned by a Cyprus company. In addition to this illicit business with the Russian terrorists, it is alleged that Rybalka did not report this income on his tax forms. He has not responded to multiple requests for comment over several weeks.

From its founding in 2006 until 2015, the aforementioned Cyprus company that owned the S Group trademarks was Lagrion Limited, per UNN and Radio Liberty — a United States government-funded broadcasting organization. In 2015, the ownership of the trademarks was transferred to a different Cyprus company — Dianatus Management Limited. An analysis of audited financial documents has revealed that directors of these companies are Eleana Christodoulou and Olga Demosthenous, respectively. Christodoulou and Demosthenous both directly played a role in the tax fraud scheme that led to the Magnitsky Act.