The third part of Medvedchuk’s telephone conversations was published by the investigative journalists for the Bihus.infoproject.
There are several recordings of Medvedchuk’s conversations with the leaders of LNR and DNR, Deputy Prime Minister Dmytro Kozak and Kremlin representatives on the tapes.
"And while the Ukrainian authorities assured that Ukraine will not buy coal from LNR and DNR militants, Medvedchuk had been negotiating the trade agreements for two months," Bihus says in his investigative video.
In the published materials, Medvedchuk allegedly says in a conversation with Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak that Ukraine will buy coal from DPR/LPR militants through an intermediary firm, which will then sell coal to Ukrainian energy firms.
In addition, Medvedchuk offered the scheme of supplying food and goods from Ukraine to the occupied territories in exchange for coal. However, the Kremlin rejected such a proposition, saying it would require money.
At the same time, according to Bihus.info, Medvedchuk persuaded the Kremlin to blackmail Ukraine using the coal shortages as leverage.
According to investigators, money that was paid for the coal to the occupants were allegedly carried to the occupied territories by the Security Service of Ukraine. The transfer of money was controlled personally by Medvedchuk and the first part of the funds was transferred to the militants on December 31, 2014, while the second tranche was planned for January 5.
"After the transfer of the money, the militants did not transport the coal to Ukraine, and before the second tranche Medvedchuk had to ask Moscow to influence its puppets," Bihus says.
Moscow's intervention contributed to the fact that coal was finally transferred to Ukraine. According to investigators, Medvedchuk received 1/3 billion hryvnias for his mediation in this coal issue.