The High Anti-Corruption Court has frozen assets linked to Deputy Prime Minister Kuleba
This is set out in a ruling by the High Anti-Corruption Court.
The High Anti-Corruption Court granted the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office’s application to freeze assets that are the subject of a claim seeking a declaration that they are unjustified.
Prosecutors asked the court to impose the seizure as a precautionary measure to prevent the possible disposal of the property whilst the case is being heard.
The property in question consists of a flat and a parking space in Kyiv, which, according to the investigation, are linked to Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba.
Which assets were seized
An apartment measuring 109.9 square metres and valued at 4,406,990 hryvnias has been seized.
The court also seized a 14.4-square-metre parking space valued at 520,000 hryvnias.
The total value of the assets is 4,926,990 hryvnias.
The SAP’s position
According to the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, in 2021, whilst Oleksii Kuleba held the post of First Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration, preliminary contracts for the purchase of an apartment and a parking space were concluded through his sister.
The SAP claims that in 2023, whilst already serving as Deputy Head of the Office of the President, Kuleba ensured that the final contracts were signed, the property was registered with the state, and service contracts for the flat and parking space were drawn up.
According to the investigation, although the property is registered in the name of the official’s sister, it is in fact Kuleba himself who uses it.
Why the assets are considered unjustified
The Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office is asking the court to declare the disputed assets unjustified and to confiscate them for the state.
The prosecution notes that an analysis of the official income and expenditure of the official and his family members allegedly indicates a lack of sufficient lawful income to purchase this property.
According to the case file, the difference between the value of the assets and the confirmed lawful income of Oleksii Kuleba and his wife for 2021 amounts to 5,272,845.73 hryvnias.
What was rejected
At this stage, the court has not ruled on whether the assets are unjustified or on their confiscation.
At present, the High Anti-Corruption Court has only considered the issue of seizing the property as a precautionary measure.
A final decision on the origin of the assets and their possible forfeiture to the state will be made during the examination of the claim on its merits.
The case concerns the current Deputy Prime Minister for the Reconstruction of Ukraine and Minister for Community and Territorial Development, Oleksii Kuleba.
The seizure of property does not imply a finding of guilt on the part of the official and does not constitute a decision to confiscate the assets.
At the same time, the High Anti-Corruption Court’s ruling allows the property to be preserved until the conclusion of the court proceedings.
Once seized, the flat and parking space cannot be sold, gifted, re-registered or otherwise disposed of until further court decisions are made.
The case regarding the possible recognition of the assets as unjustified is ongoing.
As reported by ThePublic, the SAPO seeks to confiscate the flat and parking space belonging to Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba
Follow us on Telegram
