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Mr. Pyshnyy’s Fragile Mandate: How ICU Maintains Control For Poroshenko.
When the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine imposed sanctions against Petro Poroshenko in February 2025, the list included the International Investment Bank (IIB), a key asset of his business empire. The law requires the immediate owner deprivation and transfer of control over the bank to an authorised representative of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU). However, the regulatory authority’s reaction was unusually sluggish: the actual deprivation took place after more than two months.
Andriy Pyshnyy NBU Governor
Such procrastination cannot be explained solely by bureaucratic inertia. It looks particularly discordant against the backdrop of public rhetoric by NBU Governor Andriy Pyshnyy, who is known for his declared policy of “strict compliance with the sanctions regime” and institutional reform.
Financial Red Flags
During the first five months of 2025, IIB’s financial condition deteriorated sharply. According to the National Bank’s data:
- Funds held by individuals in accounts fell by almost half;
- Corporate funds fell by a third;
- The bank’s total assets decreased by 15.9%;
- The bank passed from being profitable to UAH 27.2 million loss;
- At the same time, transactions on correspondent accounts rose sharply, from UAH 3.5 billion to UAH 5.8 billion.
Against the backdrop of sanctions and deferred regulatory response, this dynamic looks like a predictable scenario of hasty capital withdrawal. The key question is not why it happened, but who enabled it.
The Role of ICU and the Shadow Architects
According to industry sources, Poroshenko’s long-time partners in ICU financial group, Makar Pasenyuk and Konstantin Stetsenko, played a central role in maintaining Poroshenko’s influence over the bank. They allegedly coordinated the process of circumventing sanction restrictions, using both personal connections and institutional contacts.
An interesting element is Mr. Pasenyuk’s family background. His mother-in-law is Vera Ivanovna Ulyanchenko, once the head of the Secretariat of President Viktor Yushchenko. It was during her tenure that Petro Poroshenko served as Minister of Foreign Affairs. This fact alone does not incriminate anyone, but it does underscore the stability and depth of social ties unaffected by electoral cycles or political sanctions.
The Institutional Obscurity Phenomenon
Over the past ten years, criminal investigations have been conducted in Ukraine infringing on the interests of such figures as Sergei Kurchenko, Viktor Medvedchuk, Rinat Akhmetov, and Poroshenko himself. In many cases, the companies served by ICU were involved. However, a striking feature of these cases is the complete lack of attention to the owners of this financial group itself. Despite the scale of its activities, ICU remains institutionally obscure to the Ukrainian law enforcement system. And this obscurity seems too systematic to be accidental.
According to industry sources, Mr. Pasenyuk may own, informally and through proxies, a stake in IIB’s capital. Such an arrangement would allow him to influence the bank’s operations even after formal restrictions were imposed. In this context, the NBU’s behaviour looks not like negligence, but like the result of an informal consensus in which politics, business and regulatory authorities don’t so much clash as act in concert.
The British Connection: FPP and GLAS
ICU’s activities outside Ukraine are of particular interest.
FPP Asset Management LLP was founded in 2008 in London and is formally regulated by the British FCA as a boutique manager of emerging market bonds. According to Companies House. ICU Holdings was its main shareholder (more than 50% of shares) in 2018–2019. This connection was subsequently disguised through offshore companies in the Cayman Islands. In professional circles, FPP was considered a proxy structure for ICU and a formally independent holder, but in reality it voted in sync with ICU on debt restructuring issues. According to insiders, Makar Pasenyuk himself once admitted: “FPP is us.”
Equally curious is the role of Global Loan Agency Services Limited (GLAS), a British trustee involved in the management of international debt structures. On paper, GLAS acts as an independent representative of investors” interests, but its behaviour in a number of cases has raised questions: decisions formally taken on behalf of security holders actually coincided with ICU’s interests. Attempts to replace GLAS with a more neutral agent were blocked, and the company’s legal rhetoric almost verbatim repeated ICU’s arguments.
This coincidence naturally raises a logical suspicion: could it be that GLAS forms part of ICU’s network of “captive” services embedded within British jurisdiction to legitimise control over Ukrainian assets?
Is The State Watching — Or Participating?
According to information from several sources, the State Bureau of Investigation has joined the investigation. The reports have been forwarded to the Office of the President. However, no final decision on Mr. Pyshnyy has yet been made. In the event of his dismissal, his deputy Dmytro Oliynyk is considered the most likely successor. Mr. Oliynyk, previously considered Mr. Pyshnyy’s man, is now building direct ties with Bankova Street [Office of the President — translator’s note].
The situation surrounding IIB and ICU is not just NBU Governor Andriy Pyshnyy’s professional resilience test. It is a test for the entire Ukrainian regulatory system, where offshore structures and British “boutique brokers” are still the tools for preserving the power and influence of elites established back in the early 2000s.
As long as ICU and its partners remain beyond the reach of law enforcement and operate without any risk to themselves, any statements about financial sector reform sound more like PR than reality.
The Press Release Mr. Pyshnyy’s Fragile Mandate: How ICU Maintains Control For Poroshenko. appeared first on Pinion Newswire.
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Tyrannus Angel Awards Announces 2026 Official Selection Celebrating the Human Spirit in AI Film
LOS ANGELES, CASelected from 636 submissions across 84 countries, 34 films advance ahead of the October 24 awards presentation at AI Film Summit Los Angeles 2026.
Selected from 636 submissions across 84 countries, 34 films advance ahead of the October 24 awards presentation at AI Film Summit Los Angeles 2026.
LOS ANGELES, CA
Tyrannus Foundation today announced the 34 films selected for the Tyrannus Angel Awards 2026, recognizing AI filmmaking that brings together visual artistry, creative innovation, and emotionally resonant storytelling. Chosen from 636 submissions representing 84 countries, the official selection reflects the growing ability of creators around the world to use AI to tell stories that move, inspire, and connect audiences.
The final award recipients will be announced on October 24 during AI Film Summit Los Angeles 2026 at City Club Los Angeles.
A Place for Ideas. An Opening for Creators.
The name Tyrannus draws inspiration from the story of Paul teaching and engaging in dialogue at the school of Tyrannus. For Tyrannus Foundation, that legacy carries the spirit of a “Prince’s Academy”: a place where people from different backgrounds exchange ideas and create an influence that reaches across faiths, nations, and cultures.
“Angel” connects that vision to Los Angeles, the City of Angels. Beginning in the city that is home to Hollywood, the Awards aims to open a new doorway into the world of film for creators whose stories might previously have remained beyond the reach of traditional production.
As AI expands what filmmakers can create with limited resources, Tyrannus Angel Awards seeks to help meaningful stories find an audience—and help the people behind them find recognition, encouragement, and support. Its ambition extends to the communities those creators come from: that a filmmaker whose voice is recognized on a global stage can carry that encouragement home, illuminating new possibilities for others.
Recognizing the Humanity Behind the Image
The 2026 selection was guided by five considerations: visual artistry, the creative use of AI technology, storytelling ability, emotional impact, and the expression of hope and humanity.
According to the Foundation, this year’s submissions included many works with exceptional imagery and sophisticated production techniques. The final selection places particular emphasis on how those creative achievements serve the story and shape the audience’s experience.
The 34 selected films were chosen for their ability to leave an impression: a moment of recognition, a feeling of warmth, a renewed sense of possibility, or the pleasure of being drawn into an engaging story. The Awards values films that can entertain while giving audiences something meaningful to carry with them.
For the Foundation, these works demonstrate the emotional range emerging within AI filmmaking. Through the images and production methods, viewers can encounter the feelings, humanity, and creative soul of the people telling the stories. That connection between creator and audience is central to what Tyrannus Angel Awards seeks to recognize.
2026 Official Selection
The following works are listed in announcement order, without ranking. Inclusion in the official selection does not indicate a final award. Award recipients will be announced on October 24.
- Unbreakable — Sebastian Rangel, United States
- Candy — Jiaze Li, United Kingdom
- Apocalypse Squad — Chao-Hsien Tseng, Taiwan
- ENOUGH — Julia Martin, Russian Federation
- Gabbit A Promise Kept — Wonnam Chai, South Korea
- If Stars Could Fall — Hsu Tien Hsiang, Taiwan
- INCUBUS — Julien Prevost, France
- Nostalgia — Guillermo Jose Trujillo, Colombia
- PRIZMA 1984 — Victor Korchik, United States
- Noor — Nishtha Shailajan, India
- PARADISE ISLAND — MEHMET ALİ POYRAZ, Türkiye
- The Pastor Says — Mikhail Wolkonsky, United Kingdom
- Know you again — Arnaud Tardy, France
- Peking Opera Paradise — Jiayang Liang, China
- THE THREAD — Sheikh Jayed Bin Noor, Bangladesh
- The First Dance — Leopoldo Joe Nakata, Brazil
- Damascus Call (AI Shortfilm) — Abin Alex, India
- Simple Things — Randell J Jackman, United States
- -BLUE- — TAEJOO PARK, South Korea
- ALEX&PROTO — Mark Vilther, Israel
- Diary of an exoplanet biologist — Dongyuan Ma, China
- The Strawberry Cake — Bluesky Lan, United States
- Kathársis: Reclaim the future — Guillermo Jose Trujillo, Colombia
- The Silent Protector — Kanishk Deshwal, India
- HOPE — Nabil El Allouche, Morocco
- ECHO — Yassine Temime, Tunisia
- 《MISSION MUST ARRIVE》 — Zhui Zheng, China
- L’Ultimo Volo — Leonard Menchiari, Italy
- Silent Friends — Enyu Tao, China
- Monkey King Legend — Emre Altay, Türkiye
- SKUGGADALR: The Valley of Lost Shadows — Guillermo Jose Trujillo, Colombia
- THE BIN CHICKEN — Sejun Hwang, Australia
- Kami — Dominic Higgins, Ian Higgins, United Kingdom
- Loud silence — Ihor Khoroshylov, Ukraine
Nine Awards Across Three Categories
Tyrannus Angel Awards 2026 will present nine awards recognizing achievement in directing, screenwriting, and production:
- Original: Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Production.
- Adaptation: Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Production.
- Animation: Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Production.
Four special nominations will also be announced. Their specific titles will be revealed with the final results on October 24.
From Recognition to an Audience
The Tyrannus Angel Awards presentation will take place during AI Film Summit Los Angeles 2026, presented by Tyrannus Foundation on October 24, from 1:00–7:00 PM at City Club Los Angeles.
Award-winning films will be shown in the Summit’s Screening Room and featured on AISCENIX through dedicated creator showcase pages, providing a place for audiences to discover the work and the filmmakers behind it beyond the event.
At the Creator Lab, attendees will experience how creators bring AI filmmaking to life through demonstrations and interactive presentations, offering a closer look at the processes that turn an idea into a cinematic experience.
Alongside the Awards, the Summit will feature conversations on film production, creative careers, distribution, and intellectual property, with opportunities for creators and industry professionals to meet and explore future collaboration.
Together, the Awards and Summit seek to connect recognition with opportunity: helping meaningful films reach audiences and supporting the creators who will shape what comes next.
For event information and tickets, users can visit aifilmsummit.com.
About Tyrannus Foundation
Tyrannus Foundation is the organization behind the Tyrannus Angel Awards and AI Film Summit Los Angeles. Its programs are designed to support creative exchange, recognize emerging approaches to AI-assisted filmmaking, and provide filmmakers with opportunities to present their work to broader audiences. Through the Awards, screenings, creator showcases, and industry programming, the Foundation seeks to connect filmmakers, creative professionals, and audiences around developments in AI-enabled storytelling.
Media Contact Details
Chantel Chang
Email: Send Email
Website: aifilmsummit.com
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Janaye Ashley Crowned Miss California US Nation 2026
LONG BEACH, Calif.The reigning Miss California US Nation 2026 continues her pageant and modeling journey following appearances at fashion events in New York and Denver.
The reigning Miss California US Nation 2026 continues her pageant and modeling journey following appearances at fashion events in New York and Denver.
LONG BEACH, Calif.
Janaye Ashley, the reigning Miss California US Nation 2026, is continuing her journey with the Miss US Nation pageant system as she prepares to advance to the national Miss US Nation competition later this year.
Janaye earned the California state title at the Miss West Coast US Nation 2026 regional pageant, where she was selected to represent California and move forward on the road to the national competition. Her state title followed the beginning of her Miss US Nation journey at the local level, where she represented the city of Long Beach as Miss Long Beach US Nation 2026.
Since becoming a titleholder, Janaye has continued building experience across pageantry, modeling and fashion events. She has participated in several Fashion Week productions, including Super Chic New York Fashion Week Winter and Super Chic Denver Fashion Week.
Her participation in Denver also expanded beyond the runway, as Janaye had the opportunity to serve as a host during the Super Chic Denver Fashion Week event.
The appearances have allowed Janaye to continue developing her presence within the fashion and pageant industries while representing the Miss US Nation organization across multiple events and markets.
Her progression from a local Long Beach title to the California state crown reflects a growing role within the Miss US Nation pageant system. Janaye is now preparing for the next stage of that journey as she advances toward the national Miss US Nation competition.
Janaye’s earlier selection as Miss California US Nation 2026 was announced following the Miss West Coast US Nation 2026 competition. She joined other regional and state titleholders selected to advance toward the national pageant.
Beyond pageantry, Janaye has also built a growing presence in modeling. Her journey has included runway appearances and fashion-focused events that have provided opportunities to work in different production environments while continuing to represent her state title.
As she moves toward the national competition, Janaye plans to continue participating in pageant, fashion and modeling opportunities while representing California within the Miss US Nation organization.
Supporters can follow Janaye Ashley on Instagram at @janayewonderfullymade for updates on her pageant journey, modeling appearances and upcoming events.
Photo Credit: JEM Studio Productions
Instagram: @jemstudioproductions
About Miss US Nation Pageants
Miss US Nation Pageants is a pageant organization that provides opportunities for titleholders to participate in regional, state and national competitions while gaining experience in modeling, fashion, public appearances and related events.
Media Contact Details
Rachel Marvilli
Email: Send Email
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McKenzie Scott’s Elite Criminal Defense Attorneys Report Favorable Outcomes in Roughly 3 of 4 Trials – Against a Federal System Where Prosecutors Win More Than 90% of the Time
San Diego, CAThe San Diego criminal defense firm’s federal trial lawyers – all alumni of Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc. – bring 80+ years of combined experience and 80+ jury trials to clients facing federal charges across Southern California, including San Diego and Los Angeles. McKenzie Scott PC, a San Diego-based civil rights and criminal defense […]
San Diego, CA
The San Diego criminal defense firm’s federal trial lawyers – all alumni of Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc. – bring 80+ years of combined experience and 80+ jury trials to clients facing federal charges across Southern California, including San Diego and Los Angeles.
McKenzie Scott PC, a San Diego-based civil rights and criminal defense firm, carries a significant federal trial record behind its criminal defense practice:
Across more than 80 jury trials, approximately three-quarters of the firm’s criminal cases have resulted in acquittals, hung juries, or success on appeal.
That figure runs directly counter to the odds most federal defendants face. Federal prosecutors secure convictions in more than 90% of adjudicated federal cases. Moreover, in fiscal year 2022, they won roughly 83% of the cases that actually reached a verdict at trial – 1,379 defendants found guilty against 290 acquitted, according to Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts data analyzed by the Pew Research Center.
A Team Trained Where Federal Trials Are Actually Tried
The firm’s federal criminal defense practice is built entirely from alumni of Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc., the Federal Community Defender Organization appointed to represent people accused of federal crimes in the Southern District of California – one of the busiest and most-demanding federal criminal dockets in the United States.
Founding partners Michele Akemi McKenzie and Tim Scott each began their careers as criminal trial attorneys at Federal Defenders, where they spent nearly two decades defending clients charged primarily with drug and immigration offenses. Trial attorneys Marcus Bourassa, Michelle Angeles, and Lauren Mellano also served at Federal Defenders, where they tried federal criminal cases to verdict, argued appeals before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, raised novel constitutional challenges to federal prosecutions, and presented before the California State Assembly’s Committee on Public Safety.
That shared background is unique in private practice. Most criminal defense lawyers move directly into private work and try comparatively few federal cases. Federal Defenders lawyers try them constantly, against the same U.S. Attorney’s Office, in front of the same district judges, under the same federal rules.
What the Firm’s Criminal Defense Team Handles
- Drug trafficking and drug manufacturing
- White-collar offenses – wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, embezzlement, tax evasion
- Health care fraud, including False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute allegations
- Money laundering and honest services fraud
- Insurance fraud
- Immigration offenses and border arrests
- Illegal firearms possession
- RICO violations, insider trading, theft of trade secrets, and cybercrime
The firm also maintains an active federal appellate practice, with dozens of successful appeals before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Serving Clients Across Southern California
McKenzie Scott’s office is located in downtown San Diego, blocks from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, and the firm represents clients throughout California and nationwide – including clients facing charges in the Central District of California in Los Angeles.
Free case evaluations are available at (619) 794-0451 or at https://mckenziescott.com/federal-criminal-defense-attorney/.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the federal conviction rate?
More than 90% of adjudicated federal criminal cases end in a conviction, largely because roughly 90% of federal defendants plead guilty. Among cases that reach a verdict at trial, federal prosecutors convicted about 83% of defendants in fiscal year 2022.
Why does a lawyer’s Federal Defenders background matter?
Federal Defenders offices handle high volumes of federal criminal cases and try them to verdict. Attorneys who trained there accumulate federal trial and Ninth Circuit appellate experience that most private practitioners never get, because federal trials are rare.
Can any criminal defense attorney represent me in federal court?
No. Generally, only an attorney admitted to practice in the federal district court where charges are filed may represent a defendant there. Federal procedure, evidence, and sentencing differ substantially from state practice.
What should I do if federal agents contact me?
Decline to answer questions, state clearly that you want to speak with a lawyer, and contact a federal criminal defense attorney immediately. Statements made to federal agents before you have counsel can permanently damage a defense.
Does McKenzie Scott handle cases in Los Angeles?
About McKenzie Scott PC
McKenzie Scott PC is a notable San Diego criminal defense law firm representing clients in federal and state criminal matters, police misconduct and civil rights litigation, and personal injury cases. The firm’s attorneys bring more than 80 years of combined federal criminal experience and a trial record built at Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc. The firm is located at 1350 Columbia Street, Suite 600, San Diego, California 92101.
Learn more at https://mckenziescott.com. For a free and confidential criminal defense attorney case evaluation, click here.
Contains attorney advertising. Results described reflect outcomes in prior matters and depend on the specific facts and circumstances of each case. Past results do not guarantee, warrant, or predict a similar outcome in any future matter. This release is informational and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship.
Tyrannus Angel Awards Announces 2026 Official Selection Celebrating the Human Spirit in AI Film
Janaye Ashley Crowned Miss California US Nation 2026
McKenzie Scott’s Elite Criminal Defense Attorneys Report Favorable Outcomes in Roughly 3 of 4 Trials – Against a Federal System Where Prosecutors Win More Than 90% of the Time
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