Court orders NABU to open case against Kyiv City Council deputy Shvkovsky on extortion charges

The High Anti-Corruption Court has ordered the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine to open criminal proceedings against Kyiv City Council deputy and former Dynamo coach Oleksandr Shovkovskyi. He is charged with extortion of funds on an especially large scale. This was reported by the NABU press service.

As it turned out, Bureau employees did open criminal proceedings, but transferred the case to the police by jurisdiction.

According to media reports and Shovkovskyi’s own words, the conflict stems from a dispute over a shooting range in Kyiv. Shovkovskyi’s company rented premises for the range, after which the lease agreement was terminated. A dispute arose between Shovkovskyi and the property owner over approximately €217,000 that the former coach had invested in renovations.

Shovkovskyi himself denies any wrongdoing and states that an organized smear campaign has been launched against him in the press.

In 2021, media reported that Shovkovskyi had purchased diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and pearls worth approximately €428,000. As a Kyiv City Council deputy from the Udar party, he was required to make his declaration public.

Earlier, in 2023, Kyiv’s Dynamo appointed Oleksandr Shovkovskyi as the club’s permanent head coach.