In Lithuania and Poland, two men were detained on suspicions of organizing a fraudulent scheme related to NATO contracts and the U.S. military.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 50-year-old Turkish citizen Bagadir Hatipoglu, who resides near the Lithuanian city of Klaipėda, is the owner of companies that received or sought to obtain contracts with NATO and the U.S. Army.
Another detainee is 70-year-old German Ralph Grivnov, a former NATO procurement official who lives near Zagnańsk, Poland.
According to investigators, Hatipoglu allegedly bribed Grivnov in various ways – including financial transfers, a meeting with a woman in Dubai, and assisting in the construction of a house in Poland.
In exchange for this, Grivnov allegedly aided Hatipoglu in several contracts with the U.S. military, providing false positive reviews of Hatipoglu’s firms.
It was also revealed that Grivnov transmitted confidential information to Hatipoglu related to NATO construction tenders.
“Grivnov also provided Hatipoglu with preferential treatment in the oversight of contracts that Hatipoglu had or sought to obtain with NATO, and handed Hatipoglu confidential information related to tenders for NATO construction contracts.”
– U.S. Department of Justice
Detentions and Next Steps in the Case
Hatipoglu and Grivnov were detained in the countries of their residence – Lithuania and Poland, respectively. The United States is informing Lithuanian and Polish authorities about the ongoing extradition process for both defendants to the United States. Both have been charged with fraud; the maximum prison term for these charges is up to 20 years.
The investigation is ongoing, and an official extradition procedure with the confirmation of the necessary legal steps is expected.