Ukrainska Pravda, an online newspaper, on Jan. 13 published the names of 400 people who were awarded weapons by Interior Minister Arsen Avakov in 2014 and 2015.
The newspaper cited law enforcement sources.
Avakov’s generous distribution of firearms has been criticized as often unwarranted, and is seen by some of his opponents as a way to express his political patronage.
But Interior Ministry spokesman Artem Shevchenko denied the accusations on Jan. 13, saying that the weapons had been awarded for conscientious service, achievements in fighting crime, and for defending constitutional rights and liberties.
Avakov said in July 2016 that he had awarded weapons to 1,200 people since 2014, including to 900 fighters in the special forces and volunteer units, and to about 90 lawmakers.
Ihor Kotvitsky, a People’s Front lawmaker and advisor to Avakov, tops the list of those honored by the minister – he has been given six weapons.
Kotvitsky, a close ally of the minister who is informally known as “Avakov’s Wallet,” is being investigated by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau over an undeclared transfer of $40 million to Panama. Avakov is also under investigation by the bureau in several graft cases, including one involving supplies of backpacks to the ministry. Both Kotvitsky and Avakov deny any wrongdoing.
Former Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and his successor Volodymyr Groysman share second place, with four weapons each.
Meanwhile, President Petro Poroshenko was awarded a luxury Jones 1911 handgun, made by U.S. company Cabot Guns.
Avakov also awarded a Glock 19 pistol to former Prosecutor General Oleh Makhnitsky, a Beretta 92 FS semi-automatic pistol to ex-Prosecutor General Vitaly Yarema, a Glock 19 to People’s Front lawmaker Serhiy Pashynsky, a Fort 9 pistol to National Bank of Ukraine Chief Valeria Gontareva, and a Beretta PX4 to ex-presidential Chief of Staff Boris Lozhkin.
Others presented with weapons by Avakov include tycoon Ihor Kolomoisky, who received a Fort 221; Radical Party leader Oleh Lyashko, who got an MP5 K A4 submachine gun, and the late Igor Yeremeyev, a former member of ex-President Viktor Yanukovych’s Party of Regions and lawmaker from the People’s Will faction.
Journalists also received deadly gifts from Avakov. Sonia Koshkina, the chief editor of the Levy Bereg news site, was given a Fort 9R, while Zurab Alasania, the former CEO of the National Television Company, received a Fort 17.
Meanwhile, Yury Kasyanov, a blogger and volunteer helping the military, was given a Kalashnikov assault rifle.
