Ukrainian Law enforcement detains Head of the gambling and lottery regulation commission on suspicion of aiding Russia and drug trafficking

The head of the Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries, Ivan Rudy, has been taken into custody without bail. He is suspected of “aiding Russia and illegally storing large quantities of narcotics without intent to sell.”

This was reported by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) of Ukraine.

According to investigators, Rudy facilitated the licensing of an online casino whose beneficial owners are Russian citizens. During a search, a large amount of cocaine was reportedly found in his possession.

He has been charged under Articles 111-2 and 309 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (aiding the aggressor state and illegal possession of large quantities of narcotics without intent to sell).

“During the pre-trial investigation, it was established that the institution he headed issued a license and deliberately failed to act to revoke the license of an online gambling company whose beneficial owners are Russian nationals. Representatives of this company provided support to the aggressor state.

Despite multiple expert reviews showing that the activities of the online casino posed a threat to national security—specifically, sensitive data of Ukrainian military personnel and casino clients could easily fall into Russian hands—no action was taken,” the SBI reported.

It is worth noting that Ukraine decided earlier this year to restrict the activities of online casinos.