We’re being harassed in Ukraine, claims JKX

Oil and gas explorer JKX hit out at a “harassment” campaign today after a third police raid on its Ukraine offices.

JKX’s Ukrainian subsidiary PPC, which is embroiled in a tax dispute with the government, said its Kiev headquarters was raided by 24 officers this week, after two earlier swoops in Poltava.

JKX said today the campaign was “increasingly taking on the form of harassment rather than a legitimate investigation”.

The London-listed firm cited prime minister Volodymyr Groysman’s ambition to “declare war on everyone who hampers entrepreneurs creating new jobs”.

It added: “The company believes it is exactly this kind of harassment that the government is attempting to halt.”

JKX is backed by a roster of billionaires including Ukrainian raiders Igor Kolomoisky and Gennadiy Bogolyubov as well as Russian oligarch Alexander Zhukov, who own together 37%.

The previous management was ousted last year by JKX shareholder Proxima.