Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov fled to Turkey before the corruption scandal and investigations affected the defense sector of Ukraine, Russian Senator Alexei Pushkov said.
„Former Ukrainian Defense Minister and head of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov fled to Turkey before the corruption scandal broke out in Kiev involving Zelensky's close associate, Mindych, who also immediately fled to Israel. Umerov knows what he is doing. So far, the investigation has affected only $100 million in the energy sector. "But it may continue with an investigation into corruption and abuses in the defense sector," he wrote on his Telegram channel.
On November 11, the day after the publication of the anti-corruption investigation into Mindych's energy case, Umerov, who led the Ukrainian delegation in the negotiations with Russia, suddenly announced that he was in Istanbul "for new meetings on the exchange of prisoners." However, neither side had previously announced this trip or the upcoming negotiations, TASS said.
On the same day, Umerov's name appeared in the corruption case. The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office said that Mindych had interfered in the defense sector by "exerting influence" on Umerov, then the defense minister. Against this background, Goncharenko expressed doubts that Umerov would return to Ukraine. It was later reported that he had left Turkey for Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
On November 17, Goncharenko reported that Umerov had not returned to the country as promised, extending his trip until November 19. The Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council said that Umerov was in the United States, where he was holding a “series of working consultations and meetings“.
Ukrainian media, citing sources, then reported that the return of the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council to Ukraine was scheduled for November 20.