Millions-worth debts of Antonov: the case of Arsen Isaakian, former director of the State Innovation Financial-Credit Institution

Millions-worth debts of Antonov: the case of Arsen Isaakian, former director of the State Innovation Financial-Credit Institution
Start of the trial 13 December 2019
Date of verdict 11 November 2021
Instance HACC
Stage of criminal proceedings Judicial proceedings

On November 9, the HACC found Arsen Isaakian, former director of the State Innovation Financial-Credit Institution, guilty of transferring the right to claim the debt to a debt recovery firm for a significantly lower amount than the debt itself. The court found him guilty, but exempted him from punishment due to the expiration of the statute of limitations.

Arsen Isaakian is a former Chair of the Board of the State Innovation Financial-Credit Institution (SIFCI). In 1998, the SIFCI provided a UAH 16 million loan to the State Enterprise Antonov for the period until 2001. Antonov did not repay the debt, so the SIFCI initiated a number of lawsuits to recover the loan amount. 

 

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In 2015, the SIFCI sold the right to claim the debt to a private company called Factor Plus for only UAH 1.5 million, which led to the NABU launching an investigation. Isaakian was detained in February 2016: the investigation accused him of causing UAH 14.6 million in damage to the state institution. 

In September 2018, there was an attempt to conclude a plea agreement. According to the agreement, the former head of the SIFCI were to pay only a UAH 17,000 fine, and there was no obligation to compensate the state for losses. In 2020, the HACC did not approve this agreement because it was not in the public interest.

Arsen Isaakian's actions were classified under Article 367, part 2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, namely, neglect of official duty. Before that, he was charged with embezzlement and abuse of office. The court sentenced Isaakian to 3.5 years in prison, a UAH 12,750 fine, and a 3-year ban on holding certain positions. However, the statute of limitations in the case had expired, so the court exempted Isaakian from punishment.

Proceeding No. 52015000000000006
Case No. 761/11536/16-к
Date the hearing was scheduled 19/12/2019
Qualification
Article 364, part 2
Instance Key parties
HACC 13/12/2019 Panel of judges: Nohachevskyi V.V., Strohyi I.L.
THE CASE OF ARSEN ISAAKIAN
Judicial proceedings

Arsen Isaakian, former head of the State Innovation Financial-Credit Institution, transferred the right to claim the debt of SE Antonov to a private firm for less than the debt itself. He was found guilty but exempted from punishment due to the expiration of the statute of limitations. 

  • 1998
    SIFCI lent UAH 16 million to SE Antonov
  • May 15, 2015
    Isaakian sold the right to claim UAH 16 million of Antonov's debt to a private company for UAH 1.5 million
  • pic
    February 19, 2016
    the NABU detained Isaakian
  • March 11, 2020
    the HACC did not approve Isaakian's agreement with the SAPO prosecutor, under which he were to pay only a UAH 17,000 fine
  • pic
    November 9, 2021
    the HACC found Isaakian guilty of neglecting official duty, but exempted him from punishment due to the expiration of the statute of limitations.

Decisions from the Register