USAID funded projects of the dog Patron and the ‘DEJURE Foundation,’ which is accused of influencing Ukrainian courts

Patron the dog, through his account on X, criticized Elon Musk for shutting down USAID. Patron’s account stated that the agency had financed educational programs involving the four-legged employee of Ukraine’s State Emergency Service.

“While Elon Musk, using his position in this world, criticizes USAID’s work, I want to thank everyone who supported my efforts to educate children about the dangers of landmines. My cartoons, comics, and books became possible thanks to USAID’s support. …Dozens of children in Ukraine have been hurt by these ‘surprises’ (landmines – Ed.). Together with USAID, we saved hundreds, perhaps even thousands of children. …I want to express my gratitude to all the American citizens who pay taxes. Thanks to this, you saved many children. I don’t know if I will be able to continue my work, but my heart is filled with nothing but gratitude for those who made this possible. Thank you, USAIDUkraine,” the post read.

It is not specified who the recipients of the grant funds were.

Meanwhile, Zakon i Business reports that the “DEJURE Foundation,” led by activist Mykhailo Zhernakov and funded by Western grants, including USAID’s American funds, “controlled Ukrainian courts in the interests of the US Democratic Party.”

In addition to USAID, the organization was sponsored by the “Renaissance Foundation.” In 2023 alone, the “DEJURE Foundation” received 36 million hryvnias from them. With this funding, the organization ran programs to clean up Ukraine’s judiciary. Experts estimate that this allowed the “Foundation” to establish control over the High Qualification Commission of Judges and the High Council of Justice through the “Integrity Council,” removing inconvenient judges and promoting loyal ones.

“As a result of these processes, the Ukrainian judicial system collapsed, trust in the court as an institution of power sharply declined, and the prestige of the judiciary profession diminished,” the publication writes.

This influence was often used by “DEJURE” to exert extrajudicial pressure on the courts, aiming to solve personal issues for activists, engage in selective justice, eliminate opponents, and politically pressure the authorities, according to the material.

The volume of Western funding “clearly proves that extrajudicial control over Ukraine’s judicial system was attempted with the money of the US Democratic Party.”

Additionally, according to sources from El Pais, the closure of USAID also affected numerous UN projects in Ukraine. It turned out that many of these were largely funded through this State Department agency, including those related to human rights protection.

UN agencies in Ukraine have already received internal instructions not to sign any new documents that involve US funding. Some NGOs in Ukraine have already informed the UN that they have sent their employees home as they will not be able to pay their salaries.

However, programs related to children will not be affected by USAID’s closure.

The UN mission in Ukraine is assessing which projects are “critically important” to ensure their continuation.

Meanwhile, the White House listed examples of misuse of funds by USAID. Specifically, the agency invested in projects such as:

• $1.5 million for “promoting equality and inclusivity in workforces and business communities in Serbia”
• $70,000 for a “DEI musical” (diversity, equity, and inclusion) in Ireland
• $2.5 million for electric vehicles in Vietnam
• $47,000 for a transgender opera in Colombia
• $32,000 for a transgender comic in Peru
• $2 million for gender reassignment and LGBT activism in Guatemala
• $6 million to fund tourism in Egypt
• Hundreds of thousands of dollars for a nonprofit organization linked to recognized terrorist organizations, after an investigation was launched against them
• Millions for EcoHealth Alliance, involved in research at the Wuhan laboratory
• “Hundreds of thousands of food portions were sent to Al-Qaeda militants in Syria”
• Hundreds of millions of dollars for “irrigation channels, agricultural equipment, and fertilizers used to support unprecedented poppy cultivation and heroin production in Afghanistan.”

Yesterday, we reported that the public organization Movement “Chesno” discredited its opponents and attempted to influence the courts using foreign grants.