The death of Ukrainian banker Oleksandr Adarich is being investigated in Milan as a possible murder.
Law enforcement agencies in Milan are investigating the death of 54-year-old Ukrainian banker Oleksandr Adarich as a possible intentional crime. The man's body was found on the afternoon of 23 January in the courtyard of a building on Via Nerino, near Piazza Duomo, after falling from a fourth-floor window from a height of about 15 metres, Wantedinmilan informs.
Initially, the incident was classified as a mysterious fall, but after reviewing CCTV footage, investigators changed their version of events. The police recorded that at least two people left the building immediately after Adarich's death. This gave reason to believe that the death could have been staged to look like suicide.
The investigation is being conducted by the Milan police mobile unit under the procedural supervision of prosecutor Rosario Ferracane. Investigators also had additional questions about the fact that the 100-square-metre bed and breakfast apartment was booked for the period from 22 to 24 January under a name other than that of the banker. No suitcases or personal belongings were found inside, but several documents with his photo were found, but with different personal details.
The testimony of the housekeeper was also crucial. She stated that immediately after a loud bang, she saw a man near the window and later met a similar person in the courtyard. The stranger asked in English what had happened and then quickly disappeared. Investigators do not rule out that other people may have been in the room at the time of Adarich's death and that the meeting was of a business nature.
Oleksandr Adarich had Ukrainian and Romanian citizenship, was a prominent figure in Ukraine's financial sector for many years, and in 2006 was among the country's top 100 banking managers. He had long been associated with Fidobank, which went bankrupt in 2016, and also had business interests in companies registered in Luxembourg. Recently, the banker had been living in Spain with his second wife and, according to the investigation, arrived in Milan shortly before his death, planning to return the same day.
Italian experts are awaiting the results of an autopsy, which should determine whether Adarich was alive at the time of the fall. This will be key to the final classification of the case. The police are also analysing CCTV footage from the area and telephone connections to identify individuals who may have been involved in the incident. The motive for the crime has not been officially announced, but investigators are considering versions related to possible business conflicts and the deceased's past financial activities.
According to the Telegram channels ORD and Bond News, Oleksandr Adarich had been a prominent figure in the Ukrainian financial sector for many years. In 2006, he was included in the list of the 100 best managers in Ukraine. At the same time, his career was accompanied by a number of high-profile incidents. Adarich was considered close to the so-called "Family" of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and his son Alexander. After the events of 2014, the Yanukovychs left for Russia, and Adarich himself later found himself at the centre of investigations related to the bankruptcy of Fidobank in 2016.
According to the investigation, the bank's collapse was linked to illegal lending schemes. According to law enforcement agencies, Fidobank officials organised the issuance of credit funds to the company "Maximus Assets", with which "Edelmar" LLC purchased buildings on Velyka Vasylkivska Street in Kyiv from the bank. These are properties located at 10B with an area of 5,104 square metres and 10A with an area of 585 square metres, which were sold at an undervalued price. In fact, the bank's head office was purchased with the bank's own funds.
According to public information, the beneficiary of Edelmar is Ivan Rudenko, born in 1987 in Zaporizhia. He was also associated with Rost Investment, whose director was Denis Grynyuk, as well as with a number of logistics and industrial enterprises, whose founders included Vyacheslav Strelkovsky and his wife Diana.
Milan, Oleksandr Adarich, banker, bank, Fidobank, Viktor Yanukovych,
