Ukrainian court issues in absentia arrest warrant for ex-Rada deputy from Yanukovych’s inner circle

Ukraine’s High Anti-Corruption Court has issued an in absentia ruling to arrest a former member of the Verkhovna Rada from the Party of Regions.

This was announced by Ukraine’s Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office.

The former MP was arrested in absentia in a case involving the legalization of nine land plots in the suburbs of Kyiv that were obtained illegally. Their combined value exceeds 160 million hryvnias (approximately €3.1 million).

According to Ukrainian investigators, in 2021, during a dispute over one of the agricultural markets located near Kyiv, plots associated with it were re-registered to a number of companies and handed over for development. According to the investigation’s version of events, the former MP and the developer of the plots subsequently concluded an agreement on the joint use of these assets.

The prosecutor’s office did not name the person arrested in absentia. However, Ukrainian media report that the individual in question is former Rada deputy Yuriy Ivanyushchenko, who was part of the inner circle of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

It was previously reported that bail of 140 million hryvnias (approximately €2.7 million) had been posted for former head of Zelensky’s office Andriy Yermak, who was charged with money laundering in connection with the construction of luxury housing near Kyiv.