Regensburg city councilor criticizes mayor of Ukrainian twin city: "Deeply involved in organized crime"
Created: 2022-05-22Updated: 2022-05-22 06:27
By: Stefan Aigner
Regensburg city councilor Irmgard Freihoffer denounces the criminal involvement of Odessa's mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov.
© Michael Bothner
Help for and solidarity with the Ukrainian twin city yes, go live and applause for its mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov no.
That is the attitude of Regensburg City Councilor Irmgard Freihoffer.
In an open letter, she points out the criminal machinations of the Ukrainian politician.
After the mayor of Odessa made a live broadcast in the Regensburg city council, Irmgard Freihoffer expressed clear criticism of the head of the Ukrainian twin city in an open letter.
Gennadiy Trukhanov is "deeply involved in organized crime," according to an open letter from the Left City Councilor to Mayor Gertrud Maltz-Schwarzfischer.
After live connection in the Regensburg city council: Left city councilor criticizes criminal machinations of Odessa's mayor
Trukhanov was live at a city council meeting on April 28 to report on the situation in Odessa in the face of Russia's war of aggression.
Regensburg supports its partner city with aid deliveries - so far four 40-ton trucks with food, medicine and technical equipment - but also with money.
Following Trukhanov's remarks, the Regensburg city councilors rose and applauded the mayor of Odessa.
Not Irmgard Freihoffer.
It leaves no doubt that the partner city urgently needs support in view of the Russian attack.
In view of Trukhanov's well-known criminal activities, however, Freihoffer asks:
“How do you ensure that aid deliveries for Ukraine and our sister city actually benefit those affected and do not end up in dark channels?
Particular attention should be paid to this.
It would be very unfortunate if the willingness to help and donate of people in this country were taken ad adsurdum.”
Open letter from Regensburg city councilor: Mayor of Odessa was a member of a mafia gang
Freihoffer's letter is supported by numerous sources.
Among other things, a BBC documentary from 2018 describing how the Italian police observed Trukhanov in the 1990s.
He was considered a leading member of a Ukrainian mafia gang that made its money from drug trafficking, illegal oil trading and arms smuggling and parked it in shell companies in the British Virgin Islands.
“These companies ended up buying luxury real estate in London to launder money,” says Freihoffer’s letter to the mayor.
Trukhanov is also mentioned in connection with the Paradise Papers.
According to other sources that Freihoffer has gathered, Trukhanov seems to be continuing his criminal activities as mayor of Odessa.
The "Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project" reports, among other things, on how he manages construction contracts for his companies or parking fees into his own pocket.
Another report speaks of attempts on the life of Trukhanov critics in Odessa.
Despite criticism of criminal activities: City councilor calls for help and solidarity with Regensburg's sister city
Against the background of all this, she thinks it is "important and right that you work together with the mayor there, Gennadiy Trukhanov, and with everyone else, regarding the twinning with Odessa and in connection with aid from Regensburg for the suffering population in our twin town diplomatic customs that are required towards the official representative of a major city in another country,” Freihoffer wrote to Mayor Maltz-Schwarzfischer.
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It is also important to continue to support the sister city on the Black Sea with aid supplies in the best possible way.
But: "In my opinion, the mayor of Odessa should not be connected online again in the city council." not".
