Ihor Kolomoisky, one of Ukraine’s most influential businessmen, was arrested in Israel on Thursday night on suspicion of fraud and money laundering. Israeli police said Kolomoisky, who is a close ally of Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky, was arrested on suspicion of misappropriation of funds of a company he co-owns. Kolomoisky has been an ardent supporter of President Zelensky since he was elected in 2019, and has become a major power broker in the country. He has faced numerous legal challenges in the past, including in 2020 when he was investigated for allegedly ordering his allies to seize a Ukrainian lender’s headquarters. The incident escalated into a major scandal with Zelensky eventually banning Kolomoisky from entering Ukraine. Kolomoisky has denied any wrong doing and has vowed to fight the charges against him.
