[96498] Judicial instance freezes real estate assets of Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba

Asset seizure against Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba

The special judicial instance in Ukraine, the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC), has ordered the seizure of an apartment measuring approximately 110 square meters and an adjacent parking space, attributed to the Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration, Oleksiy Kuleba. The value of the properties is estimated at approximately 5 million hryvnias (4.4 million for the apartment and 520,000 for the parking space).

According to reports in Times of Ukraine and Україна Online, the court's decision was reached following an examination by the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP). Law enforcement authorities claim that an analysis of the income and expenses of Kuleba and his family revealed that he did not have legal sources of income to justify the purchase of these properties.

The Anti-Corruption Action Centre and other sources indicate that the real estate was registered in the name of Kuleba's sister. According to the prosecution, Kuleba used his family members and his personal driver to execute the transactions back during his tenure as Deputy Mayor of Kyiv in 2021. Цензор.НЕТ quotes the prosecution as saying that "Kuleba uses these assets and has actual influence over his sister, which could lead to the disposal of the assets."

On the other hand, 24 Канал notes that Kuleba has previously rejected the allegations and claimed that it is a "common practice" in his family to exchange housing. The order prohibiting the sale or use of the properties as bank collateral is intended to ensure the possibility of their confiscation for the benefit of the state if it is proven during the investigation that the source of the funds is illegal.