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The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) has determined that Mykola Hladyshchenko, chairman of the supervisory board of state-owned Sense Bank, does not meet the regulator’s requirements for business reputation. As a result, he can no longer remain in the position, MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak said.
Zhelezniak said Hladyshchenko should be dismissed and noted that lawmakers had already raised concerns about his compliance with the relevant requirements in May.
The decision comes a day after the Cabinet suspended Hladyshchenko from his duties as chairman of Sense Bank’s supervisory board for six months. The Finance Ministry said the move was intended to prevent threats to the proper and effective operation of the bank’s supervisory board.
The government also initiated the suspension of Sense Bank CEO Oleksii Stupak.
“Trust is a fundamental condition for the operation of a state financial institution,” Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi said.
Sense Bank linked to NABU investigation
The developments follow searches conducted by NABU detectives and prosecutors at Hladyshchenko’s property as part of the “Forrest Gump” investigation.
Sense Bank has emerged in a case involving UAH 150 million in bail for former Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko. Investigators are examining financial transactions linked to the payment.
Of the UAH 150 million bail, UAH 50 million was transferred directly from accounts at Sense Bank to the High Anti-Corruption Court. Another UAH 37.86 million was transferred from the account of Hiran Contract at Sense Bank through Tetras Optima.
The National Bank had already initiated a review in May of whether Hladyshchenko met the criteria for independence as a supervisory board member.
Parliament is also expected to hear from NBU Governor Andrii Pyshnyi on August 20 regarding the situation at Sense Bank.
