Prosecutors of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), based on the materials of the pretrial investigation of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), decided to complete the pretrial investigation and open case file on the seizure of the Mezhyhirya residence by former President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych.
“In 2002-2013, the former president, together with his son, abusing his official position, illegally took possession of a land plot on the territory of the Vyshgorodsky district and a complex of structures located on this site, namely the Puscha-Vodytsia recreation complex of the Mezhyhirya tract and house No.123a on Mezhyhirska Street in the village of Novi Petrivtsi. The damage to the state exceeds UAH 540 million,” the SAPO press service said.
The actions of the former president, whose name is not named in the statement, are qualified under Part 5 of Article 191 (misappropriation, embezzlement of property or taking possession of it through abuse of office), Part 3 of Article 209 (legalization of property obtained by criminal means), Part 3 of Article 209 (legalization of property obtained by criminal means), Part 5 of Article 368 (bribery) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, his son under Part 5 of Article 191 and Part 3 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code.
The SAPO said the specified criminal proceedings were transferred from the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) to NABU in December 2019. On August 25, 2021, the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) allowed an in absentia investigation into the former president and his son. This court decision made it possible to complete the pretrial investigation against the suspects who have been hiding for seven years on the territory of the state recognized by the Verkhovna Rada as the aggressor state. In October 2021, HACC chose a measure of restraint for the indicated suspects in the form of detention.
The Mezhyhirya property complex was seized and subsequently transferred by a court decision to the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA).
“As of today, the materials of the criminal proceedings are open to the suspects in the case and their defenders for familiarization. After familiarization, the indictment will be sent to the High Anti-Corruption Court for consideration on the merits,” the SAPO said.
