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MEOG NEWS IN BRIEF MEOG

like” Petrokim and Turkish oil giant Petkim The relationship between Petkim and despite having filed the Suspicious Activity
completed over $90 million in “suspicious Petrokim was also confirmed in Petkim’s Report.
transactions” between March 2010 and financial records. There Petrokim was listed An investigation into the 2019 Kerch Strait
January 2016. Milenyum business partner under liabilities, as Petkim was behind in ship blaze is ongoing, with Milenyum Energy
Blue Energy, which the USDT claims to be payments to its Malta-based associate. director Ufuk Kenar and managers Serkan
involved in the illicit trade of petroleum Between 2009 and 2017, Petrokim was and Erkan Duzgoren, as well as the captains
products to Syria, was also among the administered by the law firm Fenlex, which is of the Candy and the Maestro, all on trial. The
companies with which Petrokim exchanged also based in Malta. In response to questions next hearing will take place in Istanbul on
payments – over $13 million worth of from the ICIJ, Fenlex denied that Petrokim November 20.
transactions between July and December of was “involved in trades in breach of the US Hulya Cetinok, who lost her brother in
2014. (or European) sanctions in force at the time in the accident off the Crimean coast, wants to
BNY Mellon’s listing of Petrokim as an connection with Syria.” be hopeful for the upcoming trial. But she
associate of Turkey’s Petkim was confirmed in Fenlex further stated that Petrokim “did also has her doubts after the captains of the
the ICIJ’s 2017 Paradise Papers investigation. not transact with Syrian entities, nor did it ships were released in a previous trial: “As
Research conducted for the Paradise Papers tranship any goods to or from Syria.” the relatives of the victims of this disaster,
showed that Samir Karimov, who served as The oil firm Petkim and its majority our only expectation is that justice be served
vice president of SOCAR Turkey at the time, shareholder, SOCAR, refused to comment on and those responsible get the sentence they
was also the director and legal representative the allegations. deserve.”
of Petrokim. At this time, SOCAR was the BNY Mellon continues to offer DW
majority owner of Petkim. correspondence banking services to Petrokim,

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