HACC arrests head of OGP cyber department Kropiva: bail set at around €2.3 million

The High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine (HACC) has chosen a preventive measure for Serhiy Kropiva, head of the cyber department of the Office of the Prosecutor General — arrest with the option of release on bail of 120 million hryvnias (around €2.3 million).

The case is connected to accusations of providing a protection racket for fraudulent call centers.

At the hearing, Kropiva refused to admit guilt. In his words, “all the statements made by the prosecutor have nothing to do with reality.”

The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) at the same hearing had requested bail of 200 million hryvnias (around €3.9 million) — the court set a lower amount.

In addition, the prosecution presented wiretap materials which, according to SAPO, indicate Kropiva’s connections with Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko. According to the recorded conversations, discussions were held about granting Kropiva official authority to oversee all criminal proceedings on the territory of Ukraine relating to fraudulent call centers. The prosecution also noted that these changes were discussed with OGP leadership and had the full support of the prosecutor general.

Earlier, our editorial team examined why NABU is targeting Ukraine’s prosecutor general through the “Carthage” case.