Ex-Minister of Energy and Justice Faces Formal Accusations
Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office have formally charged former Minister of Energy and Justice Herman Galushchenko. The ex-official is accused of participating in a criminal organization and large-scale money laundering as part of a corruption scheme known as 'Midas'. The High Anti-Corruption Court has ordered him to be held in custody, setting an alternative bail amount of 200 million Ukrainian hryvnias.
Galushchenko's Tenure and the Alleged Crimes
Galushchenko led Ukraine's Ministry of Energy from 2021 to 2025 and also served as Minister of Justice in 2025. The scheme linked to his activities was internally referred to as 'shlagbaum' or 'roadblock'. Investigators found that the group registered a special fund on the island of Anguilla in February 2021, designed to attract $100 million in investments. A citizen of the Seychelles was appointed as the manager of this fund.
- Two companies were established in the Marshall Islands, which became part of a trust structure in St. Kitts and Nevis.
- The official beneficiaries of the fund were Galushchenko's ex-wife and his four children.
- A trusted individual using the alias 'Rocket' helped the criminal organization obtain over $112 million in cash.
- More than $7.4 million was transferred to the fund's accounts, which were controlled by the suspect's family.
Law enforcement also noted that Galushchenko's family received an additional 1.3 million Swiss francs and 2.4 million euros in cash, which was subsequently transferred directly to Switzerland. NABU detectives detained the former minister as he attempted to leave the country; he was removed from a night train. According to the NABU press service, 'the case concerns kickbacks that contractors of the state-owned Energoatom were required to pay in order to receive payment for completed contracts.' This case is a significant test for Ukraine's anti-corruption institutions, which have faced intense public scrutiny since the full-scale invasion.
This case could significantly impact public perception of anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine, as it involves a high-ranking official with experience leading key state institutions.
Galushchenko's arrest underscores the seriousness of measures being taken to combat corruption and may serve as a warning to other officials that accountability for corrupt acts can be inevitable. The situation also highlights the critical importance of international cooperation in investigating financial crimes, given the involvement of multiple foreign jurisdictions in the money laundering scheme.